SOCIETY
INFOteen
10
Maria Grammatikou, Gogo Kassavetaki, Maria Kefalaki, Ntavinta Tzekaliou, Eleftheria - Georgia Chatziathanasiou
We live in the 21st century, an era that everybody strives for equality and unity among people. However, if you look around, you will see so many categories of people judged by others. It is like putting a person in a box: man, woman, straight, gay, fat, skinny, ect. And school is no exception. Especially when children go through puberty, the gap between boys and girls starts to show; and that’s where stereotypes take place.
There is a phrase that says “Women are from Venus, men are from Mars”. There are so many differences between men and women in every aspect: thinking, feelings and actions. So, how can you tell a teenager, whose body is now changing and they are becoming men or women, not to be stereotypical?
Every person in their daily lives has faced many situations which disprove the concept that stereotypes do not exist, but many disregard that stereotypes can be found in the most common things a person can do. For instance, if someone faces tough times, it is normal for a girl to cry but for a boy it is shameful because he must not look vulnerable. A girl interested in fashion is considered as usual but when a boy does he is judged for being homosexual. These are incidents that happen everyday but no one regards them as stereotypes due to the fact that stereotypes are sprout in our minds and we are not even a bit aware of them.
Stereotypes can deter someone from reaching full potential and developing natural talents and abilities of girls and boys, women and men. They can also limit the opportunities of gaining educational and professional experience and achieving important goals.
Sexism, stereotypical, prejudiced or discriminating behavior based on gender, exists even when we do not see it. It is inside us because we grow up with it and our society accepts and praises it.
Gender Stereotypes