Gender Role

Stereotyping

By Justin B., Vita D., and Michael M.

What is Gender Role Stereotyping?

Education.com defines gender role stereotyping as the type of stereotyping that occurs when a person is expected to enact a series of norms or behaviors based upon their sex.

How is Gender a Social Construction?

Gender is similar to categories such as ethnicity, race, religion, class and language. Many societies categories both male and female into behavioral norms, where males are expected to behave more masculine, and females are expected to behave less masculine.

Masculine vs. Feminine Stereotypes

Gender Stereotyping In Schools

Gender Stereotypes in schools can be very hurtful to students education. As a teacher, part of our job is to provide opportunities to all students to achieve the most out of their education. Expecting students to exhibit specific behaviors based on their gender can greatly limit what they can learn. It is also very hurtful on a motivational level. A student may feel discouraged if their interests does not fall into what their gender is stereotyped into exhibiting. A great example is with group projects: having a boy being expected to do most of the work in something like a science class, because they are expected to have a better understanding of equipment can hurt a female's chances of learning the subject.

Changes between the male and female brain

● Differences extend beyond what the eye can see.

● Begin at 26 weeks of pregnancy.

● There are exceptions to every rule: boys who are more sensitive, and verbal.

● Equal is NOT the same.

Generalized differences in a typical brain

Scientists study four primary areas of difference:

1.Processing 2.Chemistry 3. Structure 4. Activity

1. Processing

a. Male brains utilize nearly seven times more gray matter. Which is information and action processing centers. This results in tunnel vision. When engaged in a task or game, they might not demonstrate much sensitivity to other people or their surrounding.

b. Female brains utilize nearly ten times more white matter. Which is a networking grid that connects gray matter to other processing centers with one another. This results in better transition between tasks.

2.Chemistry

a. Both brains process the same neurochemicals but to a different degree.

*Serotonin-helps us sit still; *Testosterone-sex and aggression chemical. *Estrogen-female growth and reproductive chemical. * Oxytocin-bonding and relationship chemical.

b. Males are less inclined to sit still. Are more physically impulsive and aggressive. Process less of oxytocin. Need different strategies for stress release.

c. Clinics see a preponderance of boys with dyslexia. ADHD also strikes more boys than girls. Girls with ADHD usually exhibit inattention, while boys are prone to lack of impulse control.

3. Structural

a. Females often have larger hippocampus: memory center. Since it has higher density of neural connections girls tend to absorb more sensorial and emotive information.

b. Females tend to have verbal centers on both hemispheres. Males tend to have them only on the left.

c. Girls use more words when discussing or describing an event.. story, person, object or place.

d. Males not only have fewer verbal centers, but often have less connectivity between them and their memories and feelings.

4. Activity

a. Because of the higher degree of the blood flow in the concentration part of the brain called the cingulate gyrus women will often ruminate and or revisit emotional memories more than males do.

b. Males tend, after reflecting more briefly on an emotive memory, analyze it somewhat, and then move on to the next task.

c. Observers may believe that boys avoid feelings in comparison to girls.

*Understanding differences from the neurological perspective not only opens the door to greater appreciation of the different genders, it also calls into question how we parent, educate and support our children from the young age.

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How Stereotyping Affects Men and Women

Stereotyping has an affect on everyone, man or woman.

Negative stereotypes influence people more than positive ones.

Men are more likely to be influenced by explicit stereotypes.

Women are more likely to be influenced by implicit stereotypes.

Social Theories and Gender Stereotyping

Using social theories we can describe how gender stereotypes affect us.

A few theories that help explain gender stereotyping are:

Social Role Theory

Role Congruity Theory

Expectancy Violation Theory

Social Role Theory

This is the idea that based on a person’s age, gender, or socioeconomic class they are expected by society to act in a particular role.

When we perceive a person’s role, we expect them to act in accordance to that role.

The theory draws on the fact our minds prefer order, or to categorize information.

By the time you’ve read this, you’ve given this woman a role.

Role Congruency Theory

This theory proposes that when a person conforms to their assumed role, the general response by others will be positive.

However, if a person does not act in a way ascribed to their role, they will generally garner negative reactions.

This means that men or women who act in accordance to societal views will be seen in more a positive manner than those who do not. Does he fit the role society has given him?

Expectancy Violation Theory

When a person violates an expectation assigned to them, they will be judged more closely.

This increased focus on negative actions will cause these actions to be judged even more negatively.

The opposite is true for positive unexpected actions, which are viewed more positively.

Disorder attracts attention.

Discussion.

References:

www.psychologytoday.comwww.HowStuffWorks.com

www.WebMD.com

http://www.education.com/reference/article/gender-role-stereotyping/

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