Gender Stereotyping seeps in unconsciously from society, and most commonly through parents, to kids. Though most parents don’t pass on such stereotypes knowingly or purposely to children, we can’t ignore the fact it does pass on the most through parents. Does it affect child development and behavior? Certainly yes! Studies have shown that gender stereotypes may impact every part of a child’s life and may show up in the form of poor mental health, low self-esteem, and many other issues. Thus, we at Delhi Public School Kangra, one of the top 5 CBSE schools in Kangra, see it as our collective responsibility to help children break off such gender stereotypes and come together to build an inclusive and accepting society.
However, before we move on to labeling gender stereotyping as good or bad, let’s just look at what it is. So, let’s read on.
What Does Gender Stereotype Mean?
Gender Stereotyping, in layman’s language, is about preconceived, generalized beliefs that limit behavior with respect to gender. This specifies and restricts characteristics, traits, differences, and attributes. A typical example displaying Gender Stereotyping is girls should play with dolls and learn to do household chores. Boys should not wear pink; they should play with trucks and do more adventure.
Research shows that kids start believing in gender stereotyping at the tender age of 10. The author of Parenting Beyond Pink and Blue, psychologist Christia S. Brown, perceives that children pay attention to gender differences way before their parents become aware. Being unaware, most parents unknowingly and unwillingly keep promoting gender stereotyping among their kids. For instance, buying pink stuff for girls while blue for boys. Or getting dolls for girls and cars and other mechanical kind of toys for boys. All this basically denotes gender stereotyping done unknowingly.
Impact of Gender Stereotyping on Kids’ Development
The impact of gender stereotyping not just hampers kids’ development but also affects their social growth and development. The most commonly accepted impact is on their career choices, where they fail to freely choose their career and fulfill their dreams and aspirations.
Low self-esteem, which is an outcome of gender stereotyping, can be seen in youth doing self-harm as they lose confidence in facing society with their present physical appearance. They start suppressing themselves as they witness raised eyebrows if they ask questions openly.
In accordance with poor mental health and well-being, the youth today is turning more susceptible to suicide. The outcome of expecting boys to carry the persona of being strong and ruthless risk-takers is increasing violence, addictions, rage, etc., among them. On the flip side, a strong perception of females being more homely than career-oriented diminishes their professional prospects and financial independence.
Breaking Through the Gender Stereotype Barrier
We at Delhi Public School Kangra firmly believe that there is nothing that cannot be altered with our firm will. So, here are some practical, actionable ways to eradicate the gender stereotype barrier from our society.
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Becoming aware of gender bias:
As you, the parents, are the role models for your children, it is important that you watch your words and actions while communicating with your kids. The gender bias is so subtle and alarming that you may pass casual comments without even realizing it. Hence, it is of utmost importance that you observe yourselves and inhibit the biases.
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Equipping children to address people:
It’s easy to say that there is no gender bias at your home. However, we strongly feel that if a boy chooses to pick a pink T-shirt, it is equally important to teach him how to deal with people’s stares and what to tell them. Let girls and boys get involved in similar chores in their daily routine and rise above gender stereotyping.
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Rising above the stereotype barriers:
We have already mentioned that gender stereotyping not just hampers career choices but every facet of life. Thus, it is vital to get our children equal opportunities from all verticals. A startling fact in this respect is that only 8% of women step into STEM careers, which can, in reality, get a balanced flow from all genders. Similarly, girls are nurtured to be conscious of their looks and be soft-spoken and polite. However, boys are expected to hide their emotions as an expression of being strong. If rather than talking about being equal, we just start observing our general comments, which nurtures stereotyped behavior, it will pave a larger way to create that open mindset that welcomes fair and equal opportunity for our younger generation.
Conclusion
What can be a better gift for the next generations to come than shooing away societal issues like gender stereotyping! Rather than shutting our eyes on the dark reality of how we allow gender stereotyping to penetrate deep into the subconscious minds of our kids, it is time to stand with the kids against the false pretense of gender bias. At Delhi Public School Kangra, ranked among the top 5 CBSE schools in Kangra, we believe that together we can break the shackles like gender stereotyping with the help of education and have a more liberal society for a brighter and safer tomorrow!