Gender Stereotypes Essays

Whether we realize it or not our society has what can be called a strict set of rules that are deeply ingrained and consistently perpetuated through each generation, and those rules are gender stereotypes. As Naomi Ellemers put it “stereotypical expectations not only reflect existing differences, but also impact the way men and women define themselves and are treated by others” (275). Gender stereotypes, for this reason, have noted harmful effects on both men and women, such as the hindrance of career opportunities and the negative influence on one’s emotional stability.

Gender stereotypes and their effects on women have without a doubt have become far less intense than they use to be in say the 19th and even 20th centuries. Back then gender norms constrained women to the idea that marriage was the end-goal, and that an unmarried woman had no place in society. They were even made to avoid intellectual pursuits as it was seen as unwomanly as seen when Oxford and Cambridge opened their doors to women and many families refused to let their daughters attend out of fear that they would make themselves unmarriageable (Hughes). While not as severe, gender stereotypes still plague women today and serve as impediments in their advancement in their careers. “Gender stereotypes exaggerate the perceived implications of categorizing people by their gender and offer an oversimplified view of reality (Ellemers).” this is something that can heavily impact a women’s chances at career advancement in various fields ranging from promotion to a managerial position to running for office as evidenced by the study in What’s in a Name: Exposing Gender Bias in Student Ratings of Teaching “evaluations of teacher behaviors (e.g., promptness) during an online course were rated nearly a full point higher (at 4.35 instead of 3.55 on a five-point scale) when the instructor was identified by a male name instead of a female name (as cited in Ellmers).” Gender norms can trap women in an emotional prison of sorts as seen in Kate Chopin’s Story of an Hour in which Mrs. Mallard held back by her marriage was prevented from ever following her dreams, then suddenly in the form of her husband’s death finds freedom only for it to be dashed away when it is revealed that he is still alive, resulting in Mrs. Mallard’s death.

Issues such as the harmful effects of gender stereotypes on men often receive less time in the limelight in favor of the more controversial issues, but the effects of gender stereotypes have long lasting and far reaching effects on men to a similar degree as it does for women. Gender norms for men will typically dictate that they keep questions and concerns to themselves, especially if it includes emotional problems. But this behavior can prove to be destructive as eventually one will reach their breaking point, “Stereotypic expectations for men’s self-reliance and stoicism (even when grappling with difficult events) are linked to men’s elevated levels of depression and psychological distress (as cited in Burke and Major).” This is due in part because gender stereotypes will often act as an obstacle for men seeking aid, as there is pressure from society for men to keep up the image of being strong, independent, and capable, so asking for help or looking towards counsel as a solution will often be looked down upon as unmanly, resulting in “consequences for men’s mental and physical well-being, ultimately undermining their ability to contribute to their organization as effectively as possible (Burke and major).”

The detrimental effects of gender stereotypes can come from what happens when one goes against gender norms and the backlash that comes as a result. “Many of the male employees interviewed by pime and moss reported fears of negative repercussions for championing their talented female colleges (as cited in Burke and Major)”. The male employees’ fears were that they would be seen as ‘wimpy’ or even that they would be thought of less by their other male colleges, and the unfortunate reality is that it could have been a likely possibility.

In conclusion, Gender stereotypes can have an array of harmful effects on both men and women affecting many areas of their lives in ways they may not even be aware of. And while many realize the need for change, significant change is probable until far off in the future.