Gender Role and

Stereotypes
Gender and Development
Workshop
 It’s a girl thing or a boy thing?
Burping and Farting  Engineer
Rescuing  Set of spanners
Dancing  Computer
Teacher programmer
Cooking  Red
Pink  Glitter
Doctor  Mathematician
 Lawyer
• Is it true that these are just girls or
boys things?
• Where do these ideas come
from?
• Where are these answers coming
from?
 Gender Roles
Gender roles in society means how
we’re expected to act, speak,
dress, groom, and conduct
ourselves based upon our assigned
sex.
 Gender Stereotypes
Gender stereotypes are beliefs
or assumptions about
characteristics, traits, behaviors
and roles of people based on
their sex.
 Dominant Feminine Gender
Stereotype Examples

1. Women Are Caregivers

2. Women Are Passive
3. Women Should Have Children
4. Women Are Quitters
5. Young Women Are Innocent Or Naïve
 Dominant Feminine Gender
Stereotype Examples

6. Women Need Help From Men

7. Women Are Weak
8. Women Are Too Emotional For
Leadership
 Dominant Masculine Gender
Stereotype Examples

1. Men Are Leaders

2. Men Are Good At Math
3. Boys Don’t Read Books
4. Boys Shouldn’t Play With Dolls
5. Men Are Doctors, Women Are
Nurses
 Dominant Masculine Gender
Stereotype Examples

6. Boys Will Be Boys

7. Men Don’t Cry
8. Men Use Aggression To Solve
Problems
9. Men Provide For Their Family
 Gender Sensitive Terms
Gendered Language Gender-Neutral language
Fireman Firefighter
Flight stewardess/steward flight attendant
policeman police officer
mail man postal worker
congressman representative/ legislator
Man person/individual
Mankind humanity/ people
 What Can You Do To Overcome
Gender Stereotypes?
1. Emphasize Accomplishments Over
Physical Attributes
2. Choose Colors Based On Personal
Preferences
3. Learn Skills Based On What Interests You
4. Encourage Young Women To Excel In
STEM Subjects
 What Can You Do To Overcome
Gender Stereotypes?
5. Participate Equally In Household
Chores
6. Create Mentoring Programs In Non-
stereotypical Jobs
7. Acknowledge All Genders’
Contributions To History
8. Be Friends With People Of All
Genders
 What Can You Do To Overcome
Gender Stereotypes?
9. Don't Accept Violence From Anyone
Regardless Of Their Gender
10. Recognize Men's Needs To Be
Parent Figures, Too
11. Build Your Self-Esteem Based On
Who You Are As A Person
 What Can You Do To Overcome
Gender Stereotypes?
12. Create Time And Space To
Care For Others Regardless Of
Gender
13. Speak Out Against Gender Bias
14. Don't Put Yourself Or Others
Down Because Of Gender
 Gender Norms
Gender norms are societal
expectations and rules regarding how
men and women should behave,
express themselves and interact with
others according to their gender.
 GENDER NORMS IN SOCIETY

Gender norms are existing in society

and are identifiable in various aspects
of our lives, including media, education
and family. Here are some examples of
gender norms in each of these areas:
 Media
Many TV shows and
movies feature
predominantly male
protagonists who are
strong, dominant and
aggressive while
portraying female
characters as
emotional, dependent
and sexualized.
 Media
Commercials and
advertisements often
use gendered
stereotypes to sell
products, such as
associating men with
sports and outdoor
activities, and women
with beauty and
domesticity.
 Media
In video games,
male characters are
heroic and violent,
while female
characters are
hypersexualized
and serve as
objects of male
desire.
 Education
Teachers may
unintentionally reinforce
gender norms by
calling on boys more
often, praising girls for
being quiet and
compliant or
discouraging boys from
communicating their
feelings.
 Education
Textbooks and other
reading materials often
portray men as
inventors and leaders,
while women are
absent or assume
passive roles.
 Education
Sports programs in
schools often
prioritize male
athleticism and
show less
attention to girls’
teams.
 Family
Parents may have
separate expectations
and rules for their sons
and daughters, such
as encouraging boys to
pursue careers in
STEM fields and girls
to prioritize raising a
family and nurturing
relationships.
 Family
Gendered
household chores
are typical, such as
girls being
responsible for
cooking and
cleaning while boys
do yard work and
repairs.
 Family
Children may
bully their siblings
who do not
conform to gender
norms, such as
boys who like
dolls or girls who
prefer sports.
 HOW GENDER NORMS
AFFECT CHILDREN
Girls may feel discouraged from
pursuing careers in STEM fields or
leadership positions, while boys face
ridicule for expressing interest in
traditionally feminine activities like
dancing or cooking
The pressure to conform to gender
norms can also negatively
influence children’s mental
health, leading to anxiety and
depression.
If boys feel that they cannot
communicate their emotions or seek
help, they may begin to feel stressed
and isolated.

Girls who feel the need to prioritize

appearance and social status may
experience eating disorders or body
dissatisfaction.
Children who do not conform to gender
norms may experience lower self-
esteem and negative self-concept,
as they are made to feel like they don’t
fit in or are “abnormal.”

Boys perceived as weak or feminine

may face bullying and social exclusion,
while girls who are not conventionally
feminine may feel pressure to conform
to unrealistic beauty standards.
Girls may be discouraged from
pursuing careers in politics or
law enforcement, while boys
may face stigma for choosing
caregiving professions like
nursing or teaching.
HOW TO BREAK
GENDER NORMS
 Parenting
• Parents can challenge gender norms by
avoiding stereotypes and encouraging
children to pursue their interests and passions,
regardless of sex.

• Instead of relegating activities and toys

according to gender norms, parents can
provide a wide range of things to do without
limiting them based on gender stereotypes.
 Parenting
Parents should also nurture an
environment that encourages
open communication and allow
their children to express
themselves in their preferred way
without judging or criticizing
them.
 Parenting
Parents can create a home for
their children that encourages
them to express themselves
emotionally, regardless of sex.
 Educators
Creating an inclusive and
equitable learning space can help
students feel valued and supported,
regardless of gender identity or
expression.
 Educators
Teachers should avoid using
gendered language or stereotypes
in the classroom.
Instead, educators should strive to
create opportunities for all
students to participate in all
activities and subjects.
 Educators
Teachers can also encourage
students to explore their interests
and pursue non-traditional paths,
breaking away from gender
stereotypes that limit potential and
opportunities.
 Educators
Educators can provide
opportunities for open
discussions on gender and
identity and promote respectful
communication and understanding
among students
 Media
Instead of relying on traditional
expectations, creators can
develop characters that challenge
these norms, allowing viewers to
see beyond the confines of rigid
gender categories.
 Media
To create authentic and respectful
representations of gender, media
creators must work collaboratively
with experts and members of
marginalized communities.
 Media
providing a positive
representation of non-binary and
gender non-conforming individuals
can help to reduce the
discrimination they struggle with.
10 WAYS TO PROMOTE GENDER
EQUALITY IN THE CLASSROOM
1. Ensure educational materials are free
from gender stereotypes.
2. Challenge expectations of professions
typically associated with a particular gender,
for example include a female construction
worker or soldier and a male secretary or
nurse.
10 WAYS TO PROMOTE GENDER
EQUALITY IN THE CLASSROOM
3. Avoid the term ‘guys,’ which may make
female students feel excluded, use gender-
neutral pronouns like ‘everyone.’
4. Do not refer to stereotypical
characteristics like ‘boys don’t cry’ or ‘girls
don’t fight’ which limits understanding of
gender roles.
 10 WAYS TO PROMOTE GENDER
EQUALITY IN THE CLASSROOM

5. Avoid addressing phrases like ‘you play

like a girl’ or ‘man up,’

6. Avoid segregating boys and girls into

separate lines, separate sports activities and
mix seating up in the classroom.
 10 WAYS TO PROMOTE GENDER
EQUALITY IN THE CLASSROOM
7. Ensure any educational
materials used show genders in
equal measure.
8. Mix boys and girls to work on
projects together.
 10 WAYS TO PROMOTE GENDER
EQUALITY IN THE CLASSROOM
9. Explore gender concepts and roles
from different communities.

10. Help students identify instances of

gender bias, through awareness
activities or historical events, laws and
cultural changes.
 Conclusion
Some gender stereotypes can
be based on biological fact
while others are culturally
constructed ideas about the
ideal male and female
archetypes.
 Conclusion
Nevertheless, any stereotype (good or
bad) can be negative. We should not
have pre-judgements (or prejudices)
about people based on their gender
identity. Instead, we should assess
people’s aptitudes based on our
experiences with them.