Women in Modern Society

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that gender stereotypes are reinforced and reproduced through various social structures such as the media, through generally accepted employment practices and through the norms and expectations regarding women's roles. This paper explains that the foundations of patriarchy and the preferential treatment of boys and men are planted in early childhood, as young girls are socialized into the less active, nurturer roles. The author details how these stereotypes affect the economic status of women, particularly in the area of their finances.

Table of Contents
Gender Stereotypes in Early Childhood
Gender and Work
Hiring Practices
Opportunities for Advancement
Gender Wage Gap
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Many experts agree that children establish ideas about gender very early in life, and that television increasingly contributes to these gendered expectations. For example, in many television shows targeted at children five and older, many women were portrayed as housewives, waitresses and secretaries, while men were seen in roles like construction workers and doctors. Despite a growing awareness of the role of television in creating stereotypes, experts believe that the majority of women in television do not reflect the changes in society.
Even in programs as seemingly innocuous as the Teletubbies and Barney, males serve as leaders and directors of action, while females act as followers. Neither program show adult women in non-stereotypical roles. In Teletubbies, even the non-human characters are gendered in terms of color, voice and by the shape of their antennas. As a result, these programs send a subtle but powerful message regarding gender expectations, particularly at a time when children are most receptive to internalizing such assumptions."

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