Gender Stereotypes Essay Example
Intercultural Communication
Gender Stereotypes
In this essay I will define and discuss stereotyping and gender stereotypes paying
particular attention as to how gender stereotypes influence our Cognitive processes and
how the media contributes to these stereotypes .
According to O’Sullivan, Hartley, Saunders, Montgomery and Fiske, 1994:299-300 in
Holliday, Hyde and Kullman, 2004:126, stereotyping is concerned with the categorisation
of groups and people as generalised signs, which signify values, judgements and
assumptions regarding their behaviour.
Gender stereotypes occur when one applies general characteristics, opinions and roles
towards either gender. This occurs in our everyday society on a regular basis,
particularly in the media. For instance, when companies advertise to sell products to do
with cleaning or babies, they portray women in housecleaning or child rearing roles.
Moreover, they sell products like beer and cars to men by showing women in revealing
garments.
The most common types of gender stereotypes associated with women are those that are
submissive, emotional, quite, neat and clean, clumsy, artsy and their roles involve being a
housewife and child rearing. With men it is that they are aggressive, emotionless, loud,
messy, athletic and moneymakers.
The main problem with using gender stereotypes is that one can then find themselves
making assumptions about other individuals. This can lead to individuals feeling unsure
of themselves and people simply guessing one’s reaction and intention. Instead to
determine one’s reactions one should take each situation on an individual basis.
So how can one explain stereotyping? The social cognitive approach is the framework
used. According to this approach the way one processes information is guided by
stereotypes that are belief systems. There are four cognitive processes. The first is one
that is
Gender Stereotypes
In this essay I will define and discuss stereotyping and gender stereotypes paying
particular attention as to how gender stereotypes influence our Cognitive processes and
how the media contributes to these stereotypes .
According to O’Sullivan, Hartley, Saunders, Montgomery and Fiske, 1994:299-300 in
Holliday, Hyde and Kullman, 2004:126, stereotyping is concerned with the categorisation
of groups and people as generalised signs, which signify values, judgements and
assumptions regarding their behaviour.
Gender stereotypes occur when one applies general characteristics, opinions and roles
towards either gender. This occurs in our everyday society on a regular basis,
particularly in the media. For instance, when companies advertise to sell products to do
with cleaning or babies, they portray women in housecleaning or child rearing roles.
Moreover, they sell products like beer and cars to men by showing women in revealing
garments.
The most common types of gender stereotypes associated with women are those that are
submissive, emotional, quite, neat and clean, clumsy, artsy and their roles involve being a
housewife and child rearing. With men it is that they are aggressive, emotionless, loud,
messy, athletic and moneymakers.
The main problem with using gender stereotypes is that one can then find themselves
making assumptions about other individuals. This can lead to individuals feeling unsure
of themselves and people simply guessing one’s reaction and intention. Instead to
determine one’s reactions one should take each situation on an individual basis.
So how can one explain stereotyping? The social cognitive approach is the framework
used. According to this approach the way one processes information is guided by
stereotypes that are belief systems. There are four cognitive processes. The first is one
that is