Brennan 1

Harmoni Brennan

Writing for College Section 4

Mr. Ryan Smith

25 April 2018

Barbie and Ken: Gender Roles and Stereotypes

SECTION 1: Introduction

Your world would be flipped upside down if one simple thing changed, your friends, job,

hobbies and even the monthly income would be completely different. In the words of Leila

Aboulela, ​“All through life there were distinctions - toilets for men, toilets for women; clothes

for men, clothes for women - than, in the end, the graves are identical”.​ Gender inequality plays

a huge role in the day to day lives of men and women throughout the world. ​Our biological

standpoints determine many different aspects of our lives, some of which we may not even

notice. Gender inequality is the proposition that men and women are not equal based on their

gender, it can create issues such as stereotypes, gender bias, and gender roles.

In today's society, there are both positive and negative effects of gender-based

differences. Unfortunately, gender inequality and stereotypes are often obstacles that disrupt the

lives of many across the world. Before any improvements can occur, one needs to know what

gender inequality is, how it affects individuals and how we as a society play a negative role in

the formation of these gender inequality barriers. The real question is, what can society do to

influence these restrictions and what can we do to help demolish them?

Gender roles and stereotypes places us into “boxes” that are impossible to escape. To be

accepted by society we need to follow a “norm” which includes acceptable clothes, hairstyles,
 Brennan 2

jobs, and even hobbies. Society places limits on what each gender can and cannot do. For

example, Men are not supposed to be sensitive, but suppose to act as the providers for the

weaker gender, the women..

SECTION 2: The Restriction

Think about Barbie and Ken, the boxes they are packaged in, and the restrictions in the

box that hold them into place. Unlike dolls, we are not mass produced to be the exact same; each

and every human being is unique. Just like Barbie’s packaging, society shoves us into

metaphorical boxes that restrict and limit our abilities, and the harsh words of those around us act

as restraints that keep us from ever climbing out. Each individual has their own thoughts,

feelings, and hobbies that set each and every one of us apart.

A gender role is a social role that encompasses behavior and attitudes of men and women

that are considered suitable and adequate.​ “[It’s how] were expected to act, speak, dress, groom,

and conduct ourselves based on our assigned sex” (Meyerhoff). ​According to society, women

and men should be on completely opposite sides of the scale. Men are the tough, family

providers, who show no emotion. Women, on the other hand, are weak, nurturing, seductive,

emotional beings.​ “A widely accepted judgment or bias about a person or group” (Meyerhoff) ​is

known as a stereotype which is one of the main struggles that influence the power of gender

roles.

From a young age, children learn gender stereotypes. Girls should like pink and play with

dolls while boys should favor blue and engage in athletic activities. ​“Adolescence is the time of

life when an individual needs to figure out who he or she is and what his or her role in society is

going to be” (Meyerhoff)​ and not have to worry about the constant struggle of fitting in. There
 Brennan 3

are enough struggles trying to figure out who you are as a person so pressures of having to force

yourself to like a certain thing based on whether your a boy or a girl just adds on to the stress.

It is no surprise when adults push their kids to like certain things because they themselves

have been brainwashed. It seems as though adults still want to fit into these gender roles that

have been instilled in us from such an early age. As we grow up, the gender barriers become a

little blurry. In 2018 it is more common to venture out and explore the vast interests no despite

their gender. People increasingly question what gender roles really are.

History is full of gender discrimination. It has been going on since the beginning of

humankind. The provider of the family, the men, were the hunters while women were the ones

that took care of the families and cooked. Men needed to be strong and powerful, tall and

daunting, since they were the sole providers. Men were the ones who participated in politics, the

ones that were in charge, the alpha. Women, on the other hand, were fragile, and nurturing, they

lived to please their husbands, clean and cook, parented, and obeyed.

Gender roles, inequality, and stereotypes are fueled by many things. ​“Sex is anatomical,

while gender is social and psychological” (Nash)​ there should be a choice, not an assigned item

or hobby aimed towards a certain gender. Clothing, haircuts, beauty needs, pens and pencils,

cars, and sports are day to day things that affect a man or woman's life. If someone were to break

the “norm” it would cause either them or others to be uncomfortable. Before recent years, it was

extremely rare to see men doing what is typically associated with females and vice-versa but

with the recent popularization of more genders, such as Agender which mean there is no identity

with a particular gender, Androgyny which is when there are both characteristics of a man and

women in one individual, Bigender which is an individual whose identity encompasses one of a
 Brennan 4

man and a woman, Genderqueer which is also known as gender fluid when you may feel like a

mn one day and a women another, and many more, it allows us to explore and try new things.

There is actually a phenomenon that Michael K. Meyerhoff calls, “‘Gender crossover.’ It is very

common that in middle age, after the kids and grown and have gone, men are to become more

expressive and nurturing while women become more independent and assertive” ​ This isn’t

something that is commonly heard about but something that should be talked about more often.

As we grow from children to adults, we learn many different things, educational,

emotional and social. The social aspect teaches us about ways we should behave, act,

communicate and decipher between different aspects of our lives. The friends we hang out with,

the jobs or hobbies we have or even the place you work at can all be affected by the gender role

construct. Depending on if you are a man or women, you may get different opportunities,

different benefits and different suggested life paths not based on your personal skill level, but

your biological standpoints as well. It shouldn’t be this, or the daily lives of billions of people all

across the globe.

SECTION 3: How Gender affects our day to day lives

It is no surprise to see how gender-related bias controls us. It has been going on since the

beginning of time, even ​“The Bible specifies the authority of men over their wife (or wives) and

daughters. For instance, when Eve eats the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in

the book of Genesis. Her first sin was stated not to be eating the fruit but was leaving the area of

Adam’s authority” (Nash). ​Gender roles were created because back in the day women were seen

as incapable compared to men. Women couldn't contribute to society in the form of labor
 Brennan 5

because they were too fragile and weak. ​“Past gender roles should not apply anymore because

both sexes are now equally capable of contributing to society” (Nash).

“Boys are told from a young age to go outside and have adventures, while girls are encouraged to

stay home and do chores” (Luscombe). ​For gender roles to even decrease we all need to be

willing to encourage boys to show emotion just as much as we encourage girls to take up job

opportunities in leadership positions and explore hobbies that tend to be associated with men.

There are so many opportunities that should be available to anyone in the world.

Biological standpoints scientifically affect the differences between a man and women,

‘“women develop more white brain matter, and men develop more gray brain matter”

(University of California, Irvine, 2005)​. In other words, a male brain represents more

information processing centers, and a female brain represents more networking between these

processing centers. Practically this means that most men are better at subjects like math, while

most women are better at communication and language, because of their networking centers. ​ “It

seemed clear to me that any between-sex differences in thinking abilities were due to

socialization practices, artifacts and mistakes in the research, and bias and prejudice. ... After

reviewing a pile of journal articles that stood several feet high and numerous books and book

chapters that dwarfed the stack of journal articles … I changed my mind” (Goldman)​ The human

brain has distinct anatomical differences, it varies between a man and a woman. Physiological

differences aren’t the only thing that sets men and women apart, there are also psychological

differences between the sexes that plays a major role as well.

UC Irvine professor of neurobiology and behavior Larry Cahill, Ph.D. believes that the

human brain is a sex-typed organ with various neural structures and physiological characteristics.
 Brennan 6

Cahill explains that ​“Brain-imaging studies indicate that these differences extend well beyond

the strictly reproductive domain” (Cahill).​ For example, in a woman's brain, the two hemispheres

talk to each other more than a man's does. While women's brains show a connection of both sides

a man's brain activity is shown mainly in local brain regions, a woman's brain is more bilaterally

symmetrical than a man's. Women are able to remember more vivid images of emotional events

that men do, that's where the saying “a woman never forgets” comes from. ​Cahill goes on to state

“They recall emotional memories more quickly, and the ones they recall are richer and more

intense.” ​There are many psychological differences many of which we are not conscious of.

“What if you don't identify with the gender you were assigned at birth? What if you do

not fit into the binary gender system? What if your sexual orientation does not align with the

heteronormative picture continually shown in media, stories, and curriculum?” (Sullivan) ​This is

hard to think about, isn’t it? I mean the odds are not in favor of not feeling your assigned gender.

Society, stereotypes, gender roles and even biological standpoints all push you to be the gender

assigned at birth. In my personal opinion, like previously stated, gender is the choice of the

amount of masculinity and femininity you want to act while sex relies on the body parts and

brain structure that you have no control over. Sometimes individuals have no choice, no matter

what they personally feel inside they can't be who they truly want to be, maybe it is based on

their location, a place where the times have not yet caught up and they know nothing else but

birth-assigned gender, maybe it is based on their religion or family expectations where they

would feel shunned or fear they will be a disappointment to their families.

There are many reasons why a person feels restricted and trapped in their own bodies and

unable to express themselves in whatever ways they desire. Society and Stereotypes being the
 Brennan 7

main reason. ​“These stereotypes around gender are ingrained in us and are such a part if the

dominant cultural narrative, but not everyone fits into these boxes is perfectly or neatly”​ Megan

Sullivan and Kelley Mcneely-Nutting states​. “[They] are dominant, consistent and limiting, and

we keep supporting them. Why are we not more upset when the diversity that makes humanity so

beautiful is rarely shown?” (Sullivan). ​Self-expression is a beautiful thing and in today's society

there are individuals pushing the boundaries of the social and societal norm. Men are wearing

makeup and crop tops, women are taking up more government jobs and participating in ‘manly

sports’. Kids seeing this can learn to be comfortable in taking up whatever hobbies and likings

that their heart desires not what other people tell them. Soon, boys won’t have to wear blue and

play in the dirt and mud but maybe help cook in the kitchen, and little girls won’t need to play

with pink barbies and wear tons of makeup but go hiking and play outside. Self-expression is a

beautiful thing and simple stereotypes and gender roles shouldn’t barricade the countless

possibilities out there.

SECTION 4:

Those who have not had the privilege of being exposed to the freedoms of expressing

oneself may still have an underlying bias due to lack of exposure. The gender divide was

consistent among nearly all age groups (Gross) showing that Lack of exposure to different types

of people or scenarios can cause a closed mindset, one that has only one correct way of doing

things. It is hard to shift from one mindset to another although, ​“Over the years, the gender role

disparity has evolved into a more negotiable paradigm” (Nair).​ Like mentioned earlier, gender

roles have changed tremendously over the years. People are now more accepted when they do
 Brennan 8

things not typically considered ‘normal’. With the shift of things that are socially accepted by

each gender comes the downfall of many related stereotypes.

Women are the caretakers, men, the providers, that’s how it has always been. The boys in

school were always known as the rambunctious, naughty kids while the girls typically sat

attentive and quiet in the corners of the classrooms. It was strange when a male did something

feminine and a female did something masculine but now the lines are blurring, at least in some

parts of the world. There are still many women suffering under the oppression of men, especially

in the middle east. Women in the middle east have restrictions that they must follow, they have

to cover up from head to toe, have limits on the education they are allowed to receive and have

,many other struggles that many of us take for granted. Gross, makes a statement about how

horrible and constricting gender roles can be especially on young individuals trying to find

themselves: ​“I contend that most of the unnecessary suffering in human life, the suffering due to

clinging, aggression, and bewilderment rather to birth, aging, sickness, and death, is due to the

prison of gender role, which is why freedom from that prison, not new reformed gender roles, is

what we need.” (Gross) ​ With the more accepting approach to being different caused big change,

Girls are participating and outshining some boys in sports and men are excelling in household

tasks. Although there is a decrease of stereotypes and gender roles there is still the always

prevalent discrimination of genders. Kelly Baker mentions that ​“Sexism appears forever present,

threatening and frankly, exhausting. Sexism isn’t really going anywhere…”

Sexism is the discrimination and prejudice towards someone based on their sex. It has

been a never-ending battle and the first major improvement, here in America, was in the 1920’s

when the 19th amendment allowed women the right to vote after that society changed and
 Brennan 9

opened more doors for women. Baker states sexism, although improving, will be a never-ending

battle. It isn’t something that is going away overnight, it is years and years of constant bias that

has to led to the system being the way it is today. The root of the problem extends from the lack

of knowledge or understanding of the issue. ​“The division is also remarkably gendered.

Sixty-three percent of the women surveyed said that women continue to face obstacles, while

56% of men surveyed said that the obstacles women face are not missing” (Baker)​ one gender

cannot fight the problem, the issue is big enough and needs to be acknowledged by everyone no

matter what gender you may identify with and the only way is can every improve is if it is a

group effort to eliminate the causes.

SECTION 5: Conclusion

Gender roles are not something that we can just turn the other cheek towards, it is

something that needs to be brought to the attention of everyone. The missed opportunities, the

dreams that have never come true, the harsh words that have held people back and limited the

talents that could have become. Who knows what inventions we could have had, the cures that

could have been created and the incredible talents that could have come from a gender equal

world.

Rita M. Gross makes some very interesting points in her writing one of them being “that

all feminism has gotten us is that now women can be “men” too, they can do just about

everything that was once defined as the male gender role.”​ It shouldn't be like this, life should be

a game of catch up where it be over racism, homophobia or sexism, there should not be a group

that is any lesser than the other. The way it has worked in the past was that men were considered
 Brennan 10

the superiors and in some places still are. They are the dominant gender that are taking charge, it

is still happening in the world today. We see it heavily in the middle east where many women

aren't even allowed to show their faces, we see it in small villages where girls have to actually

fight and go through hell and back just to get an education. Even if it is not easily visible in our

own backyards doesn't mean it's not happening.

Gender roles and inequality does not only mean that some girl must cover up from head

to toe, or the fact that she can’t drive a car or go to school but it can surface in unequal pay. It

can surface in the way many women are called out for wearing certain articles of clothes or how

many think women are meant to stay in the kitchen and not take up big name jobs like a doctor, a

CEO or a politician. We see it in men as well, how they are looked down upon for showing

emotion or wanting to take care of their families and be a stay at home dad instead of being at a

9-5 job as the main income provider for their families. We see it in how men can’t speak out for

being sexually harassed because somehow in many minds it is impossible for a tough man to be

raped by a weaker women. It's everywhere, it affects everyone, and it needs to stop.

Gender roles are the restrictions that are causing everyone to suffer. It is a topic that

needs to be addressed but everyone is too scared to do it. Our biological differences should not

set the rules of what we can or cannot do. There are so many missed opportunities that are just

waiting for someone to be bold enough to break the societal norm and make that change that the

world is waiting for. People everyday are starting to wake up and realise that the past boundaries

are not something that needs to hinder anyone anymore. I mean haven't you ever wondered what

opportunities you have already missed out on?

 Brennan 11

Work Cited:

Meyerhoff, Michael K. "Gender Roles for a New Generation." Pediatrics for Parents, vol. 27,

no. 7/8, Jul/Aug 2011, pp. 8-10. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hxh&AN=70217584&site=ehost-live.

“Gender Roles in Modern Society.” Gender Roles in Modern Society | One World Education,

Inc., www.oneworldeducation.org/gender-roles-modern-society. Accessed 26 Sept. 2017.

Goldman, Bruce, and Gérard DuBois. “How Men's and Women's Brains Are Different.”

Stanford Medicine,

stanmed.stanford.edu/2017spring/how-mens-and-womens-brains-are-different.html.

"Never Stereotype Jobs Based on Gender Roles." HR Specialist: California Employment Law,

vol. 8, no. 9, Sept. 2014, pp. 1-2. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b9h&AN=97541383&site=ehost-live.

LUSCOMBE , BELINDA . “Gender Stereotypes: Kids Believe Them By Age 10.” Time, Time,

20 Sept. 2017, time.com/4948607/gender-stereotypes-roles/.

SULLIVAN, MEGAN and KELLY MCNEELY-NUTTING. "Naming Gender Laming."

LILIPOH, vol. 19, no. 75, Spring 2014, pp. 38-40. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=awh&AN=95470072&site=ehost-live

Nair, Shanti K. "Gender Imbalance." Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (1947-2900), vol. 6,

no. 3, Fall 2014, pp. 67-72. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=110544095&site=ehost-live
 Brennan 12

Baker, Kelly J. "Sexism Is Not Over: Two New Reports on Gender Discrimination." Women in

Higher Education (10608303), vol. 25, no. 10, Oct. 2016, p. 18. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1002/whe.20366.

Gross, Rita M. "What Went Wrong? Feminism and Freedom from the Prison of Gender Roles."

Cross Currents, vol. 53, no. 1, Spring 2003, p. 8.

M., Meghan. “How Does Gender Affect Communication?” PairedLife, PairedLife, 9 May 2010,

pairedlife.com/etiquette/Gender-and-Communication.

Parenthood, P. (n.d.). Gender Identity & Roles | Feminine Traits & Stereotypes. Retrieved

January 10, 2018, from

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sexual-orientation-gender/gender-gender-identi

ty/what-are-gender-roles-and-stereotypes