Written by Dr Ashima Saxena, Sr. Assistant Professor, The Northcap University
Gender stereotypes are frequently debated by theorists and psychologists worldwide. People make decisions, form relationships, choose jobs, and even marry under the impression that they are exercising their free will and promoting financial security.
Members of our society differ in a variety of ways. The one that exists between men and women is significant. This difference is biological in nature, and it is characterised by physical differences between the sexes. Gender stereotypes, which are generalisations about the personal characteristics of males and females in society, have traditionally been created using biological differences. Children are taught from a young age which activities and behaviours society assigns to men and women. As a result of this exposure, children develop deeply ingrained attitudes about how members of each sex should behave and what roles they should play in society.
While some gender stereotypes are harmless, others can be problematic and have negative consequences. The belief that women should be passive is one of the problematic gender stereotypes. Children are taught from a very early age that women should be passive. Girls’ aggressive behaviour is discouraged and even punished. Passive and submissive behaviour is praised and encouraged. Young girls, for example, are expected to be agreeable and considerate of their peers' needs when playing with their peers. Fighting is avoided at all costs, and compromises are frequently reached. This socialisation instils the idea that girls should not be assertive and should prioritise the interests of others over their own.
The stereotype dictates that when interacting with men, women should exhibit qualities such as comfort, humbleness, and cooperativeness. Women are discouraged from pursuing their goals or speaking up for what they believe in because of this stereotype. Girls who show a lot of assertiveness are usually looked down on and mocked by their peers. Many women revert to the expected social norm of non-assertiveness because of this. Women adopt passive roles as adults and avoid being aggressive in most situations. Society encourages the perpetuation of this stereotype by rewarding the proper unassertive woman. On the other hand, assertive women are stigmatised by labels such as "bitchy" and "bossy."
Even when women have comparable or superior qualifications to their male coworkers, they are judged according to this stereotype. As a result, many organisations underutilize women's talent in senior leadership positions. Women who want to advance in their careers must work hard to break free from this stereotype. As a result of the stereotype that women should be passive, women are at a disadvantage in the workplace because they are automatically deemed unsuitable for leadership positions.
Women who demonstrate their ability to overcome this biased view are labelled negatively. Adults reinforce this stereotype by punishing women who are as assertive as their male counterparts. In reality, women can be just as assertive as men. Gender stereotypes contribute to many women's inability to assert themselves. Given the significant negative consequences of this stereotype, steps should be taken to eliminate it. Despite significant social progress made by humans in recent decades, gender stereotypes persist.
