Gender stereotypes Essay Example for Free

Gender stereotypes Essay According to the oxford dictionary the definition of stereotype is â€Å" A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing†. Everyone has a preconceived notion about a ‘MAN’ and a ‘WOMEN’, a man’s work or women’s work, the characteristic ways in which a man or a women is defined also has some preconceived notions. These preconceived notions can be defined as stereotypes. The stereotypes begin at an early age, even as an infant it is already decided that blue is for boys and pink is for girls, even their toys are decided, have you ever witnessed a small boy ever agreeing to like or play with Barbie dolls? I haven’t. Stereotypes are embedded in our society to such an extent that we don’t even realise it, they influence our thought process, the way we become less indifferent towards things, the way we perceive things everything is defined by a simple word:- Stereotype. Even in the 21st century stereotypes exist, it is considered curtsey when a man opens the door for women, but is it really? Or has it always been like this? Why is it that the man has to propose to the love of his life why can’t a women to do? Why is it that women have to always be in the kitchen and cook? Why dothey have to take care of the kids? These are still some of the most common stereotypes that exist but no one really does much about it. Usually, the female stereotypic part is to get married and have children. She is also expected to put her relations well-being before her own, be loving, compassionate, caring, nurturing, and sympathetic. The male stereotypic part is to be the financial provider. He is also to be assertive, competitive, independent, courageous, and career? focused, expected to keep his emotions aside or in check. These stereotypes can hinder a person’s development and make them restricted to the confinement of the stereotype that precedes their gender and never be able to grow out of it. â€Å"Women were created from the rib of man to be beside him, not from his head to top him, nor from his feet to be trampled by him, but from under his arm to be protected by him, near to his heart to be loved by him. † ? David O. McKay.