How Does Gender Stereotypes Affect Children

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Men and women throughout time, typically follow a set of rules or general attitudes that are accepted by society, this is known as gender roles. This mindset is not naturally instilled and must be taught from generation to generation. How children are raised can affect their mindset as they grow up over time. Children can be influenced by many factors, such as; parents, media, location, and social standing. Parenting, along with the environment can be viewed as key factors that affects youth development and instill mindsets, such as gender roles. While parents have a heavy influence over children, it may not be their intention to instill gender stereotypes. In the Journal of Adolescence, Susan Witt states “… the strongest influence on gender …show more content…

When a family wants to marry into another family of a higher social class, the woman’s virginity was a must. It acted as a symbol that the person was a “good girl” and someone that is respected and “wife material”. In the film, Mrs. Loomis, Deanie’s mother, questions if she is still a virgin. She warns Deanie to be careful with men and states “boys don’t respect a girl they can go all the way with, boys want a nice girl for a wife.” For the opposite sex, this is not true. Men’s virginity was not seen as a commodity. It seems that social class was one of the main points for men to get married. Bud comes from a wealthy family and is seen as the ideal husband in the eyes of the girls in the high school. When Bud started to struggle with all his activities, Ace Stamper, Bud’s father suggests for his son to sleep with an easy woman. It is easily seen that it was fine for men to sleep around, but if women did, they were considered spoiled and not wife material. Household duties were also defined by gender. It was seen through Deanie’s and Bud’s parents. In both households Ace Stamper and Del Loomis were the breadwinner, the man who supported the family. Mrs. Loomis and Mrs. Stamper was the housewife, the person who cooked, cleaned, and took care of the house. While Mrs. Loomis wants Deanie to go to a good college, she also wants her to marry Bud, have children and become a

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