Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, norms and identity created by society for men, women, girl, boys and gender diverse people. Gender identity is how one expresses their gender.
Gender stereotypes are preconceived notions about the roles and characters played by women and men. This can seriously limit one’s abilities in personal and professional life, and reduce their role in society.
Women and men face a lot of backlashes when they stray away from the stereotype. If a woman is cold and hostile instead of being warm and nurturing she faces rejection in society, the same goes for men, if they aren’t strong and independent then they are deemed weak. This can affect their mental health. Men and women both are being stereotyped by their own and the opposite sex, it is not necessary that men stereotype women and vice versa.
Even non-binary, transgender, lesbians, gays and bisexual people face a lot when it comes to gender conformity.
How gender stereotypes are affecting us
Glass Ceiling and Glass Cliff Effect
The glass ceiling is the barrier that prevents women from reaching the top positions in workplaces as the ‘think leader- think male’ bias still exists.
Women are underrepresented in the corporate world, as of 4 March 2019 only 3.69% of women are CEOs and MDs which has remained almost stagnant since March 2014 which was 3.2%. Gender diversity in a company takes time as the CEOs and MDs of today have already been selected 5 or so years before. This number will increase when the number of COOs, CFOs, CM0s, etc will increase.
Glass cliff effect is when women are more likely to be elected for a leadership position when there is a greater risk of failure. In a poorly performing organization, women are more likely to be elected as leader and men are more likely to be appointed when the organization is successful. This is subtle gender discrimination that may limit workplace diversity.
Limited academic options
This is a known fact that girls in some areas of the world don't get to complete their education. Better educated women tend to be healthier, earn higher incomes, have fewer children, marry at a later age and have better health care and education for their children. These are important factors that can help lift the household communities and nation out of poverty.
Girls face educational barriers caused by poverty, cultural norms, violence, poor infrastructure and fragility.
Even though we have come a long way and women are a lot free than they were earlier there is still a long road ahead. The gender stereotypes that linger in society can do more harm than good to everyone.
The mental and emotional pressure
A study by the American Psychological Association found that women are more likely than men to experience anxiety and depression while men are likely to be diagnosed with substance use and antisocial disorders. Women internalize emotions which can result in depression, withdrawal and loneliness while men externalize emotions resulting in aggressive, impulsive and non-compliant behaviour.
Trying to fit in and follow the stereotypes of masculinity and femininity can be a lot. It's even harder for those who don't identify with these norms as they are judged when they don’t follow the norms and sometimes even criticized.
All of these may seem like a stretch but because we may not see it happen around us does not mean these stereotypes aren’t still around. Even the younger generation is fed with the values that men are breadwinners, it is not until later that their opinion may or may not change.
In my next article, I will talk about how we can change these stereotypes. This is a vast topic and gender stereotypes also affect those who aren’t confined to either gender I will make it a series where I will dive deeper.
As I end this would like to add that it is the society as a whole that we look at and that includes gender and those who don’t confine to it. Things cannot change overnight, this is a process that will take a long time.
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