Gender Stereotypes In Labor And Politics

Gender Stereotypes In Labor And Politics

Gender Stereotypes in Labor and Politics

Ideas about sex and gender can be some of the most fascinating topics to study and discuss. A major reason for this is the fluid and constantly evolving nature of gender topics. Despite the constant change, there are certain traditional stereotypes that remain. Boys and men are strong and independent while girls and women are more emotional, dependent, and maternal. Any behavior to the contrary supports a gender classification outside the norm such as homosexual. These long standing views find their way into the everyday lives of Americans. Blue themed baby showers for boys and pink themed baby showers for girls are a simple example of the traditional ideas being brought to life. Another example is the Happy Meals featured by McDonalds. They used to offer ones for boys that included GI Joe or Hot Wheels toys. The girl meals included Barbie Dolls or pony figurines. These examples may seem trivial but they clearly display how gender stereotypes are present even in small and seemingly meaningless ways. A more important display of these stereotypes occurs in the American labor system, where the traditional ideals of gender reinforce a gender segmented division of labor.
In analyzing the cause and effect of gender classifications on the American labor system, it is first necessary to define the traditional stereotypes having the greatest impact. In the article titled “Ask an Academic: The Secret of Boys,” Vanna Le identifies the gender characteristics often attributed to boys and then argues against such simplistic labels. She writes, “Boys and men are often seen through stereotypes as emotionally illiterate, stoic, and extremely independent” (Le). The article discusses how boys actually have a much deeper emotional side that begins to disappear as they reach “manhood.” Therefore it is strong emotional qualities tied to nurturing that are associated with girls and women. These conflicting qualities cannot simply stand true...