One of the great shames of gender stereotypes and social constructions of gender is that if you identify with being a woman, let’s say, and you exhibit traits that are constructed to be those of a man, you may be viewed harshly by society. And, if you present as a man and you exhibit one of the “woman” traits, you may be likewise viewed harshly by society. For example, men who are sentimental, may not be considered to be exhibiting sufficient masculinity in some social groups.
- There is a lot of pressure to fit within these socially constructed roles.
- With socially assigned traits such as analytical and methodical, those who present themselves as men are generally considered to have a natural ability in the maths and sciences for example.
- Women, socially constructed as nurturing, soft-hearted, and sensitive, fit naturally – it appears – into social work or nursing.
And, if you stray outside of the confines of your gender, you risk become socially suspect – women cannot cut it in maths and men are effeminate if they are nurses, etc. These are not truths, they are constructions.
You can see how harmful these constructions are, in that they have the power to direct how people live their lives.
How might your socially constructed gender have impacted aspects of your life?