Stereotypes Prejudice and Discrimination in Gender Roles 1

Ricky Young
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination in Gender Roles
Psychology of Gender
Southern New Hampshire University
The terms stereotype, prejudice, discrimination, and racism are often used
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interchangeably in typical conversations. First, it is important to distinguish that. stereotypes are
generalizations of groups of people. They can be based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual
orientation or many other characteristics. They may be positive, usually about one’s own group,
such, but are often negative, usually toward other groups. An example of the later is when
members of a ‘dominant’ racial group suggest that a ‘subordinate’ racial group is stupid or lazy
(Landor et al. 2013). In either case, the stereotype is a generalization that doesn’t take individual
differences into account.
In today’s society, and societies throughout history, social roles have always been evident
and present. They also relate to these issues of discrimination, prejudice, etc. One of the most
pronounced roles in society is that of gender roles. Gender roles are defined as social roles
assigned to each sex, whether those roles be portrayed as masculine or feminine (Herring, Keith,
and Horton 2004; Klonoff and Landrine 2000).. The gender roles are acquired early in a person’s
childhood through a process called gender socialization. The gender roles of a person are
normally taught by friends, family, and the media. Overtime, women have been assigned the
feminine roles, which in turn have given women less opportunity in society (Herring, Keith, and
Horton 2004; Klonoff and Landrine 2000). As early, as when a baby is born, gender socialization
takes place. Parents dress a male baby in blue and a female baby in pink. When the girls are
young they are given Barbies, and taught to play House. On the other hand, boys are given a toy
truck, and are taught to play a sport of some kind. Giddens states, “By age two, children have a
partial understanding of what gender is” (93). Children’s books and movies portray the women to
be cooking or caring for their children (Herring, Keith, and Horton 2004; Klonoff and Landrine
2000). New stereotypes are rarely created and are recycled from subordinate groups that have
assimilated into society. One example is when many stereotypes are currently used to
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characterize black people, that were used earlier in American history. t
Things such as prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination emerge due to fear of strangers
or feelings of superiority over others (Landor et al. 2013). They also translate into the larger
discussion of gender roles. In today’s society, and societies throughout history, social roles have
always been evident and present.. Gender roles are defined as social roles assigned to each sex,
whether those roles be portrayed as masculine or feminine. The gender roles are acquired early in
a person’s childhood through a process called gender socialization. The gender roles of a person
are normally taught by friends, family, and the media. Overtime, women have been assigned the
feminine roles, which in turn have given women less opportunity in society.As early, as when a
baby is born, gender socialization takes place. Parents dress a male baby in blue and a female
baby in pink. When the girls are young they are given Barbies, and taught to play House. On the
other hand, boys are given a toy truck, and are taught to play a sport of some kind. Giddens
states, “By age two, children have a partial understanding of what gender is” (93). Children’s
books and movies portray the women to be cooking or caring for their children.
As societies became more complex, due to an increase in population and in the ways to
group people, such as through social classes and multiple ethnic groups, prejudices also became
more complex. Because prejudice frequently involves multiple factors both at the individual and
group levels, determining the cause of prejudice in any single person is difficult (Landor et al.
2013). Most people do not willingly reveal their prejudices or the reasons for them, if they are
even aware of their prejudices at all. Some people may have become prejudiced through some
traumatic event they experienced in their lives. Others are simply conforming to the society in
which they live, expressing the same prejudices as parents, popular political leaders, or
employers. Regardless of the cause of a person's prejudice, stereotypes, are oversimplified
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opinions of others (Landor et al. 2013).
Furthermore, there are the three ABC's of prejudice. They are (A)ffective, the prejudice
refers to the general attitude structure but more specifically the emotional component.
(B)ehavioral discrimination is the differential treatment due to group membership. (C)ognitive,
stereotype is a generalization about a group that is seen as descriptive of all members of that
group. The relationship between these three subtypes is that they are not competing accounts, but
complementary elements of a more complete analysis, and all three elements influence one
another (Landor et al. 2013). These distinctions are useful for the purpose of organizing and
thinking clearly about the varied causes of stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination.
Next I will analyze the role my example plays in these situations, and what they can do
differently to help decrease prejudice toward this subgroup? Imagine twenty-two fifth-grade boys
being taken to Robbers Cave State Park. They are signing up for a summer camp experience.
These boys would be average in nearly every respect, with none of which knowing each other. I
would divide them into two groups of 11 and take them to separate areas of the park. I would
prove that neither differences in background, differences in appearance, nor prior histories of
conflict are necessary for intergroup hostility. This is because the groups would be invested into
the competition for goals. Also, competition against outsiders often increases group comradery.
Intergroup conflict can be diminished with superordinate goals that keeps prevents subgroup
distinction. This is my example
In conclusion, stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination often go together but do not
have to. Subtyping or applying a subtype to a group explains exceptions to a given stereotype by
creating a subcategory of the stereotyped group that can be expected to differ from the group as a
whole. These issue have significant relation to gender roles in our society today.
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Resources
Landor, A. M., Simons, L. G., Simons, R. L., Brody, G. H., Bryant, C. M., Gibbons, F. X., …
Melby, J. N. (2013). Exploring the Impact of Skin Tone on Family Dynamics and Race-Related
Outcomes. Journal of Family Psychology : JFP : Journal of the Division of Family Psychology
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of the American Psychological Association (Division 43), 27(5), 817–826.
http://doi.org/10.1037/a0033883
Yerevanci. 2013. “Public Opinion of Interracial Marriage in the United States.” Wikimedia
Commons. Retrieved December 23, 2014
(http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Public_opinion_of_interracial_marriage_in_the_Unite
d_States.png).
Uzogara, E. E., Lee, H., Abdou, C. M., & Jackson, J. S. (2014). A comparison of skin tone
discrimination among African American men: 1995 and 2003. Psychology of Men & Masculinity,
15(2), 201–212. http://doi.org/10.1037/a0033479
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Ricky Young

Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination in Gender Roles

Southern New Hampshire University

interchangeably in typical conversations. First, it is important to distinguish that. stereotypes are

differences into account.

characterize black people, that were used earlier in American history. t

employers. Regardless of the cause of a person's prejudice, stereotypes, are oversimplified

opinions of others (Landor et al. 2013).

(B)ehavioral discrimination is the differential treatment due to group membership. (C)ognitive,

distinction. This is my example

In conclusion, stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination often go together but do not

of the American Psychological Association (Division 43), 27(5), 817–826.

Commons. Retrieved December 23, 2014

15(2), 201–212. http://doi.org/10.1037/a0033479

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