Abstract This paper raises the question of whether there is a relationship between genderstereotypes in children's books and a child's perception of gender. The analysis is based on a qualitative review of research articles.
From the Paper "This study sought to determine the existence of the relationship between gender stereotypes in children's books and children's perceptions of gender. The exploration of this topic involved a qualitative review of research articles that addressed this topic from multiple perspectives. Several research studies that focused on measuring the gender representations in children's books were based on the premise that the presence of gender stereotypes in books automatically translates into children's gender stereotypical perceptions. However, the remaining research studies suggested that children's gender perceptions played a stronger role in shaping..."
Tags: Is, there, a, relationship, between, gender, stereotypes, in, children's, books, and, a, child's, perception, of, gender?
Abstract This paper explores the factors influencing genderstereotyping in five-year-old subject Hadley. It includes an overview of the psychological literature pertaining to said stereotyping, a transcript of the interview with Hadley, and an analysis of the interview in the context of adherence to stereotypes.
Outline
Introduction
Method
Results
Overview of Results
Discussion
Sources
From the Paper "Many studies document the adherence of young children to gender stereotypes (Berk, Textbook, 521). Even children only eighteen months old display some implicit knowledge of gender stereotypes (Berk, 521). By two years, these stereotypes often become deeply ingrained as a component of gender identity (Kuhn, et al., 1978). As children reach ages where beliefs can be more reliably measured, stereotyping emerges as an exceptionally clear component of the social maturing process. In late childhood, some stereotypes become more firmly implanted, while others appear to weaken (Garret and Ein, 1977; Etaugh and Duits, 1990). While these processes clearly undergo fluctuations and shifts in emphasis, gender stereotyping undoubtedly constitutes a major aspect of normal development, and a significant portion of this development includes increased sensitivity toward the symbolic nature of the world, including toward the importance of color."
Abstract This paper compares the way that female and male characters or individuals speak in films or on T.V. The writer uses examples and statistics to support the fact that the difference not only exists but possibly perpetuates genderstereotypes. Examples including male and female voice overs and the choice of language are used in this paper. The writer contends that the media wants to keep women in a powerless role.
From the Paper "The portrayal of gender in media especially in films and on television has received considerable interest in the past two decades by people from academics to parents, hoping to encourage their sons and daughters to prepare for a more egalitarian world. Although great strides have been made from the stereotypical housewives, Lucy Ethel and Donna it is still clear that traces of sexism in the language provided by scriptwriters in advertising and films remain. The purpose of this paper is to compare the way ... "
Abstract This paper discusses the underperformance of boys at reading and language skills in comparison to girls. The essay provides a critical exploration of the issues in the debate, and argues the thesis that the underperformance of boys at reading and language skills in comparison to girls is a consequence of systemic genderstereotyping in our society as a whole.
Outline:
Introduction
Boys and Reading: The Critical Context
Boys and Reading: The Stereotype Boys and Reading: What Can Educators Do?
Analysis
From the Paper "Among contemporary teaching professionals, one of the most compelling issues of our time is that of the underperformance of boys at reading and language skills in comparison to girls. This is a particularly controversial issue, as it follows upon a very similar concern in the discipline some years before regarding the underperformance of girls in particular subjects. Moreover, as any review of the literature on the subject will reveal, the complex and controversial issues of gender stereotyping, and how we as a society understand, construct and/or shape masculinity, lie at the core of the debate."
Abstract This study investigates media stereotyping of American First Ladies Laura Welch Bush and Hillary Rodham Clinton principally using quantitative and qualitative content analysis. The research explores the amount and qualities of "Time" magazine's news coverage during their husband's first terms of office to establish, (i) who between Mrs. Clinton and Mrs. Bush is framed as most often politically active and (ii) who between them is more negatively stereotyped. Hypotheses predict that the most politically active First Lady will attract more media coverage and more negative stereotypes. Both hypotheses were supported by the research, which indicate that Hillary Clinton was framed both as the most politically active and negatively stereotyped of the two.
Table of COntents
I.Introduction
Etymology of Stereotypes Scholarship on GenderStereotypes Stereotypes & America's First Ladies
II.The First Lady in American History
Early Interest in First Ladies
Scholarship Since the 1980s
Hillary Clinton & Laura Bush
III.Methodology
Data Collection
Setting
Coding
IV.Findings
V.Discussion and Conclusion
From the Paper "Across the globe, women are poorly represented in many facets of life - economic, political and scientific - despite the fact that they constitute the majority of the world's population. For example, females represent only about three per cent of all historical figures in Western civilization (Catell, 1903; Eisenstadt, 1978). In addition, only about one per cent of the notable contributors to science and technology are female (Simonton, 1991a)."
Abstract This paper explains that social psychology knowledge leads to the identification and challenge of genderstereotypes, to the identification of other ways of thinking about stereotypes and to the breaking of stereotypes. The author points out that an experimental design can be drawn to test the hypotheses that there is a difference in genderstereotypes for higher position and lower position employees and that there is the possibility that human resources management employees are more prejudiced by (more affected by) concerns about gender roles. The paper suggests a questionnaire describing an ambiguous workplace situation, which is followed by a series of specific questions to be rated on a five-point Likert scale.
From the Paper "The study of social psychology can be of a great help to identify the stereotypes and the way they interact with our lives. A great body of research suggests that stereotypes are implicit, unconscious. In the workplace, however, they are more obvious, due to the fact that they appear repeatedly, and generate aversive behaviors as an outcome of unfairness. This is also true in socio-political context. Because stereotypes are implicit, the social psychology research and methods or simply the great amount of information on this subject would be very helpful for at least to gain awareness on the existence of such processes."
Argues that the images of perfection that are disseminated by society are generally stereotypical images that reinforce gender roles of dominance and submission.
Abstract The way in which society defines the structures and strictures of gender has developed in the last century into a field in which there is an abundance of textual dissertation concerning gender, identity, body image, and other issuances of definitional standards that often defy the status quo and change the way in which we think about what it is to be a man or woman. The paper shows that these essential qualities that define gender are harder to determine the more we explore the boundaries that have been set up, in many cases, as no more than cultural myths that represent the continuance of a socio-economic class system. One of these myths is the idea of the mythical body image, or the ideal physiological representation of a society in which gender lines are clearly defined in terms of male and female. This paper explores the idea of this image in terms of its contrivance, ramifications, social constructionism, and its support of genderstereotypes to provide an understanding of how our culture defines male and female images of perfection.
From the Paper "Myths traditionally focus on the superhuman or divine while providing a model of behavior for their consumer, who is more often than not encouraged by them to accept a sort of socio-economic status quo, along with a sense of diversion and the illusion that in escaping reality, the person buying into the myth is escaping the status-quo of an
economically oriented social class system. This particular diversion is carried on through time and changed, if slightly, by successive generations as the gradations of society change with time (although the continuance of myth is often retrogressive concerning the continuance of the society). Although the theme may only change slightly, the
presentation of a new myth within this traditional trope suggests other changes that are more important."
Abstract This paper briefly discusses the problematic issue of genderstereotyping on TV and states that television advertisements and programs are listed as very suggestible, persuasive elements of everyday life that do help form and strengthen genderstereotypes.
From the Paper "Images of men and women on television are often based on stereotypical roles of males and females in society. From the beginning of our lives, culture teaches us what it means to be a boy or a girl. From the color of clothes to the toys we play with, the messages start at an early age. Young people are influenced by a variety of messages to conform to a variety of expectations, to buy certain products, and to preserve a specific set of values that stress the differences between males and females."
Abstract This paper looks at the issues that influence children and shape traditional gender roles. The paper also reviews articles that discuss genderstereotyping. According to the paper, parental influence and social pressures are the two main factors that determine gender roles.
From the Paper "Throughout history, gender and gender stereotypes have played a substantial role in the development of social attitudes towards women and men. The Web site www.minddisorders.com points out that in the 1800s, the industrial revolution brought dramatic changes to gender roles; men began going off to work and earning money, transferable to goods and services. The work women did, though, was "not transferable"; prior to the industrial movement, men and women often engaged in the same tasks, working a farm or a homestead, and things were equal and shared. So, men's relative independence gave them influence and power, while women were kept at home and stereotypes were attached to them as frail, domestic, suited for child rearing and cooking."
Abstract The paper refers to Michael Kimmel's analysis of the debate over genderstereotyping and its relationship with boys' underachievement in academic studies today. The paper provides a critical examination of this debate and reveals that this problem actually pre-dates the modern feminist movement, thus proving that the greater access and performance of girls in the education system is actually not related to underperformance of boys. The paper contends that this critique of feminism can be seen as an agenda-driven effort by conservative forces to both undermine the gains of the feminist movement and also obscure the reality of the negative impact of genderstereotyping upon boys' academic performance.
Outline:
Introduction
Background in the Debate
Backlash Politics and the Issue of Masculinity
Conclusion
From the Paper "In "What About the Boys?" Michael Kimmel explores a number of facets of the complex debate over gender stereotyping and the contemporary education system. Proceeding from an initial focus upon the current concern over the apparent decline in academic performance of boys in recent years, Kimmel develops a wide-ranging interrogation of not only issues and agendas in the current debate, but also of broader social gender conditioning and stereotyping in our culture and how this is negatively impacting generations of males."
Abstract The purpose of this study is to examine the nature of the gender gap that exists between girls and boys at the primary and secondary levels of education. This paper first discusses some of the root causes that influence the development of genderstereotypes and the gender gap in science and math. It then examines some of the effects of this gender gap also within an educational context.
From the Paper "Consistently, studies have demonstrated that gender stereotypes can have an effect on the ability of girls to excel in either science or math. Cultural perceptions that assume that those subjects are the domain of boys and not girls can have a deleterious effect upon the ability of girls in a schooling setting to pursue and master either of these subjects that are considered to be so crucial. Science and math constitute two of the core academic subjects that are taught in school, especially at the primary and secondary level. Despite the basic importance of science and math to education at these levels, studies seem to indicate that the current educational situation actually accentuates the gender disparities that exist between girls and boys regarding learning in science and mathematics."
Abstract This paper examines research and studies that support the notion that the gender roles of men and women are determined at a very early age. Examples of this process are cited throughout the paper. Included in this discussion are the ways that gender roles that are defined when we are children affect choices we make as adults in regard to education, career, and attitudes. The paper talks about the need to better understand the early formation of gender roles so that we need not undo this process as adults in order to attain true social equality.
From the Paper "These roles were firmly accepted and promoted for years of existence in mankind. During the 1960's with the civil rights movement there was a major shift in the way women and men were viewed in the world. For the last four or five decades females have been moving to the forfront of equality and today many of the old gender role practices have been removed. The workplace has become much more equal and students in college are from both genders, but it is as adults the effort takes place. The gender roles of yesteryear are still being promoted and encouraged in the lives of children. Because of this, when the children grow up they often have to break out of the roles they have been taught and they work to squash the multi-generational habits that are ingrained in society. This can lead to many wasted years of confusion and struggle as both genders work together in today's society."
This paper compares genderstereotyping as presented in the growing-up experiences of authors Susan Browmiller's "Femininity" and Richard Rodriguez's "Complexion".
Abstract This paper explains that Susan Brownmiller in "Femininity" deals with stereotypes of the female gender by accepting restrictions that are put on woman to be considered feminine; Richard Rodriguez in "Complexion" deals with stereotypes of how a male should behave as a Spanish-American male. The author points out that a commonality in the books is the telling of fairy tales or myths to convey proper gender behavior. The paper reveals that both stories presented a unique insight into gender roles: Brownmiller talks about how men are like forks and knifes and women are like spoons, and Rodriguez talks about the three F's-- "feo", "fuerte", and formal--and the importance they held in his ethnic background.
From the Paper "In "Femininity", Susan Brownmiller describes how the fairy tales that were read to her at night taught her gender roles. In "Complexion", Richard Rodriguez states that, "Even today, when so much about the myth of the macho no longer concerns me, I cannot evade such notions." Another commonality is that both authors' parents and the people they are around teach the authors about gender ideas by the way the speak, their actions, and their behaviors. In "Femininity", Susan Browmiller asks "Did my loving, anxious mother, who dressed me in white organdy pinafores and Mary Janes and who cried hot tears when I got them dirty, give me my first instructions," and "Did my doting aunts and uncles with their gifts of pretty dolls and miniature tea sets had to my education?""
Abstract This paper discusses the genderstereotypes present today in many of the leadership positions within an organization. The author describes several character traits that have been categorized by gender, such as women being more emotional in business relationships and men being more autocratic. Although in the past leadership was a male dominated arena, in the last decades steps have been made towards a more gender equal playing field. The paper stresses that either gender has the potential to run a corrupt business, and it is only when one can look at a female leader simply as a leader and not a woman in a man's world, then one will be that much closer to a society where anyone can aspire to a position of power, without gender being an obstacle.
From the Paper "The importance of strong leadership within an organization is immeasurable; through the many levels of management and bureaucracy, a wise and bold leader is essential to the functioning of a team. There are several key traits that we associate with a leader, such as intelligence, charisma, the ability to multi-task and think on one's feet. Despite what is often manifested in reality, history has taught us to see these traits, and leadership roles, as assigned primarily to men. It has been more than two centuries since the inception of the United States and only now are we even considering (and predictably discarding) the idea of a female president."
Abstract This paper examines how the media's influence in Western culture is pervasive and how, through magazines, television, and print ads such as billboards, advertisers have consistently adopted genderstereotypes in terms of body image and use these stereotypes to sell their products. It looks at how the stereotypical womanly ideal is slender to the point of looking unhealthy and how men are consistently presented with an overly muscular, perfectly lean physique. It considers the effects of such unrealistic stereotypical ideals and looks at the effects of the female stereotype on men and of the male stereotype on women.
From the Paper "The presentation of the ideal female stereotype also has effects in terms of eating disorders that are seen in parts of the world where this ideal predominates. Since the ideal presented is so far from normal, and can rarely be attained by healthy means, anorexia nervosa and bulimia rates have risen. The only way most women can approach this stereotype of is through starvation or disordered eating. Research (Botta et al., 2003) has shown that rates of eating disorders may be predicted based upon the magazine reading habits of the women studied. If subjects were repeatedly exposed to images of unrealistically thin models, prevalence of anorexia and bulimia was greater. "Overall, magazine reading and processing accounted for"28.0% of variance for girls? anorexic behaviors?27.5% for girls? bulimic beahaviors?23.4% for girls? body satisfaction?[and] 41.6% for girls? drive to be thin.? (Botta, 2003). Ironically, men do not see thinness as the same prerequisite for attractiveness in women that women themselves do."
