Gender Norms In Society And Media

Laws have created the illusion that men and women are no longer put into stereotypes based on gender. In reality, society continues to label men and women based on their sex. Once parents find out the sex of their baby, they automatically put their child into a stereotype. Whether the baby is a girl or a boy, their room is painted the “norm”, pink or blue. People are stereotyped even before they come out the womb, so they do not have an opportunity to choose whether they want to be feminine or masculine. Men are labeled as masculine, tough, the breadwinners whereas women are seen as delicate and the caregivers. These stereotypes have been around since the beginning of time and they have become the “norm” in society, due to it being deeply embedded

The way society and media depicts both genders has a large influence towards their actions. Women and men’s actions towards attaining a better body are distinct, but their goals are the same. Women have an “unrealistic” beauty expectation that is influenced by media and advertisments. The unrealistic image gives women the impression that they need to look like models and be perfect with no imperfections. This unrealistic image of beauty that society creates has unacceptable outcomes. Men have the expectation that they need to be ruggedly handsome and muscular. If both expectations are not attained by women and men it can result in extreme dieting with strenuous activity or suicide. Statistics show that 69% of girls have been influenced by the idea that models in magazines have the ideal body (Healthy Place, 2008). Studies have also shown that approximately 15% to 45% of men have body image issues and it has dramatically increased over the years. Although, women are more dissatisfied with their bodies, both genders are equally unhappy. The dissatisfaction that both genders have with their body leads to eating disorders and suicide. According to American Journal of Psychiatry, “An estimated 10-15% of people with anorexia or bulimia are male.(2009)” Men are less likely to search for a remedy to their eating disorders, because they

Society has the expectation for men and women, but it is the people’s duty to not follow it. Just because people are expected to act a certain way does not mean they are forced to buy product or stereotype themselves based on their sex. Society has this “unrealistic” expectation that continues to tear apart self-esteems. Although, under the law gender equality is achieved, societies’ values have not changed, they have evolved to another form a gender biasness. All humans have the ability to have the same emotions, so why do people judge men’s affection towards others and judge women’s ability to fend for themselves. If a women wants to be an engineer, let her; If a man wants to be a professional ballet dancer, let him. The world does not have to be black and white. People should have the ability to do what they love without being judged or put down, only because they do not fit into the “norm”. The problem lies within everyone, nothing will change if people continue to have the same value set. Gender roles are okay to have in society, but the expectation that everyone needs to be the same is