Stereotypes: Gender

Gender stereotypes exist everywhere, but in some places the gender roles have diminished little by little. The gender roles in the United States have taken a different turn. For example, women are now portrayed as strong, independent individuals whereas decades ago they were seen as weak and unintelligent human beings.

However we do still hear some phrases that could be stereotypical today, such as:

§  Women like to get married and have kids

§  Guys love sports

§  Women are nurses not doctors

§  Women are supposed to make less money than men

§  Women are supposed to cook and do housework

§  Women are responsible for raising children

§  Women have no technical skills

§  Women are not meant to be in charge

§  Women are clean

§  Guys are the head of the house

§  Guys do the dirty work

§  Guys are smarter

§  Guys are tougher

§  Guys are messy

§  Men are good at math

§  Men are engineers, doctors or have any high level career

Although many of us know that these assumptions do not apply to all of us, there are people who strongly believe that it is or that it should be that way. Luckily for many females, this stereotyping of genders is changing in American society.

This ad is targeting men in particular. It is telling men to “MAN UP” and take responsibility not just outside of the home but in their personal lives as well.  Since men are considered strong and intelligent beings, they should be strong enough to also be able to take care of their children. Who knows, maybe in the near future the terms “masculinity” and “femininity” would have a different meaning.