Gender Stereotypes: The Influence Of Gender Roles In Society

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Changes in society have brought issues regarding gender stereotype. Gender roles are shifting in the US. Influences of women’s movement (Firestone, Firestone, & Catlett, 2006) and gender equality movement (e.g., Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)) have contributed to expanding social roles for both genders. Nevertheless, gender stereotypes, thus gender stereotype roles continue to exist in the society (Skelly & Johnson, 2011; Wood & Eagly, 2010). With changes in gender roles, pervasiveness of gender stereotype results in a sense of guilt, resentment, and anger when people are not living up to traditional social expectations (Firestone, Firestone, & Catlett, 2006). Furthermore, people can hold gender stereotype in pre-reflective level that they may …show more content…

Hence, people cannot rely on those to guide them in life. This contributes to what Frankl (2010) referred as existential vacuum, which is “a sense of futility and emptiness and a feeling of meaninglessness” (p. 41). Consequently, in such state, people are unable to identify their individual wishes that in turn, lead them to conformity or totalitarianism. Frankl (2010) cautioned his readers that such sense of emptiness and meaninglessness are increasingly experienced by young people in the US. Certainly, changes in gender role are not the only aspect of which contribute to existential vacuum. Nonetheless, today’s young people have more opportunities in terms of social role they would take. It is also mean that they do not have a firm social expectation to how they need to live their lives. A lack of clear expectation is potentially a double edge sword that can throw them into a deep sense of uncertainty (see Frankl, …show more content…

Socio-cultural and parental influences are significant factors that encourage biases based on gender stereotype. Both men and women internalize their perspective gender stereotype roles as a part of their identity (Firestone, Firestone, & Catlett, 2006). Due to changes in the social structure and gender role in the US, people are not as restricted by the stereotype today (Gardiner & Kosmitzki, 2010; Tucker, 2005). However, such changes raised issues that are also challenging to overcome. Gaining awareness of more implicit forms of discrimination and making changes in message vulnerable people receive would help reduce negative effects of discrimination and stereotype (Steel, 1997; Sue, et al., 2007). Furthermore, in the individual level, people can benefit from self-reflection to increase awareness of their own values, beliefs, and desires. Such awareness would likely to lead to mutuality between men and women, and establishing a healthy relationship (Firestone, Firestone, & Catlett,

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