Gender norms are those rules within a society that guide girls, women, boys, and men on how they are supposed to carry themselves regarding what is considered appropriate. The norms, in this case, restrict one gender identity to participate in certain acts as society sees fit (Knudson-Martin). However, such norms are neither static nor universal as they change over time. An example of a norm in a society is that women are expected to be polite and dress accordingly while men are expected to be solid and aggressive. Such norms, therefore, change from one society to the other depending on the views of that particular society. On the other hand, stereotypes are a belief that is in existence about a specific group or gender. Stereotyping, therefore, focuses on broader cultural and social institutions. Thus, the assumptions of stereotypes are often generalized and may be true or untrue (Matviychuk). Therefore, this paper discusses social norms and stereotypes and how they function within a society.
Using the film, the aspect of gender norms has been reinforced in various ways. In minute 2:05, the lady in the dress accepts that doing an action like a girl is quite okay since she is feminine and proud of it. Therefore, in a society set, embracing the feminine norm shows that you are ready to be identified as one and thus makes a feminine person carry themselves in ways a woman should do (Charlesworth and Banaji). When the lady says that she has accepted waking up, hitting, and running as a woman, it shelves her from overdoing or copying her male counterparts in doing an activity since her actions come out the way she expects them. Another instance showing the function of gender norm in the film is in minute 2:46, the lady is confident that she would run like her if given a chance showing that she is proud to be feminine and act that way and not the opposite of how she would do it. Thus, familiarizing yourself with who you are and bringing it out shows the boundaries that norms have created within the society, require acceptance for one to belong to a particular group.
On the other hand, stereotyping in the video is shown in minute 0:29. The guy is asked to fight like a lady and throws weak punches that are somehow funny. Such stereotyping has put women in a tight spot where they are being seen as inferior to the male gender in specific activities. Additionally, stereotyping is also seen in minute 0:36, where the boy is being asked to throw like a girl. The boy uses the exclamation “awww!” which shows that she is not even in a position to pitch to a further distance. The stereotyping, in this case, depicts women as weaker and cannot do tasks that require power. The boy is later asked how the phrase like a girl sounds when used against women, and he says it sounds like abuse to women and should not be used against her sister. Stereotyping, therefore, causes one to be distracted by the thinking of another individual. In such a case, one may engage in activities that can harm them to prove a point that is unnecessary and may even go unnoticed.
Sill, such gender norms and stereotyping exist as we do our regular activities. For example, in sports, we see so many insults directed against professional athletes, such as “football is a man’s game,” which leaves the women who want to pursue their passion in limbo as they are heading into a discriminative adventure. “I cannot watch women playing soccer” is another insult that stereotypes women’s gender behavior in sports (MarcĂ©n et al.). Such statements are therefore demoralizing and should be addressed as gender-based violence. Therefore such utterances as “doing things like a girl” are uncalled for since they are specific and portray the women as weak and undeserving (Ellemers). The phrase, in this case, is a result of gender norms that demand women to have certain limits even if they can do a particular activity. Therefore, these biased and false gender norms have damaging impacts on women.
The impact damages the women who are emotional and break at the slightest form of ridicule or oppression. The effect, in this case, does not make a woman explore their full potential because they fear being stereotyped. Another result is that such stereotypes can keep a woman from engaging in sports or science as they are viewed as male-dominated areas and need strength and brains. How society has created gender norms and stereotyped women is alarming, making the women strain to be noticed in the community (Bates et al.). With this, brands such as” always” has taken the initiative to address the issue through promotion, showing various approaches the women have been viewed and the few who have stood the test of stereotypes. Therefore, the messenger is not the matter, as the issue is getting out of hand, and only a few women can address the issue.
Therefore, gender norms and stereotyping are broad issues that should be handled depending on how society has changed and not how the community was designed. The change enables us to rub off assumptions and encourage the other gender. A more scholarly approach should be used based on facts and opinions and not assumptions. Accepting each other’s sex, gender, group, and abilities should be inclusive since today, women do various activities better than men and vice versa.
Works cited
Bates, Elizabeth A., et al. “The Impact of Gendered Stereotypes on Perceptions of Violence: A Commentary.” Sex Roles, vol. 81, no. 1, 2019, pp. 34–43.
Charlesworth, Tessa ES, and Mahzarin R. Banaji. “Patterns of Implicit and Explicit Stereotypes III: Long-Term Change in Gender Stereotypes.” Social Psychological and Personality Science, vol. 13, no. 1, 2022, pp. 14–26.
Ellemers, Naomi. “Gender Stereotypes.” Annual Review of Psychology, vol. 69, 2018, pp. 275–98.
Knudson-Martin, Carmen. Changing Gender Norms in Families and Society: Toward Equality amid Complexities. 2012.
Marcén, Miriam, et al. Gender Stereotyping in Sports. 2020.
Matviychuk, Ruslana. “Gender Stereotypes in Modern Society.” Topical Issues of Humanities, Technical and Natural Sciences, 2021, pp. 277–79.