Ross Robin & Stephine Rajeev, School of Legal Studies, CUSAT
ABSTRACT
Throughout history women have been victims of many stereotypes. The stereotypes that will be analysed here are the ideas that women are somehow inferior to men, the weaker sex, both mentally and physically; they are self-sacrificing mothers and wives and that they are dependent on men. Gender stereotyping can limit the development of the natural talents and abilities of women, as well as their educational and professional experiences and life opportunities in general. It presents a serious obstacle to the achievement of real gender equality and feeds into gender discrimination. Sex stereotyping can limit the development of the natural talents and abilities of boys and girls, women and men, their educational and professional experiences as well as life opportunities in general. Stereotypes about women both result from and are the cause of deeply engrained attitudes, values, norms and prejudices against women. They are used to justify and maintain the historical relations of power of men over women as well as sexist attitudes which are holding back the advancement of women. Harmful and wrongful gender stereotypes are one of the root causes for discrimination, abuse and violence in manifold areas and can lead to violations of a wide array of human rights.
Development of gender stereotypes in children starts at home and school, there are a lot of parents and teachers who communicate this to children while they interact. We also see how parents interact with boys and girls differently based on their gender. For example, some parents want their children to know that anything with pink is for girls, and blue is for boys. The reasons they are behaving this way because children are observing their parents at home. They see that some of their fathers are working outside and seems to spend more time outside of home. Compared to mothers, who mostly working at home even after their actual jobs which they call it second shifts. These ideas manifest in the young minds, these future citizens thereby tends to be more irrational. This presentation throws light on the concept of gender stereotypes within families and its impact on women, also the measures that are to be taken by every individual to bring about positive changes to the society.
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