Gender seriotypes? How have others been affected?

[Katiya]

How have you been affected or exposed to gender stereotypes? Has it influenced your life at all?

I think this is the right forum but if its not mods can move it.


Well I was just thinking about this today and how other people's experiences were and decided id like to write another one of my epic novels on this subject LOL! A lot of people have tried to stereotype me, including my parents and particularly school personnel. I was never girly enough for anyone. I like many girl things, makeup and art and clothes. I love clothes! Lol But I have many non traditional interests. I think because I grew up with my dad in my first years. He really didn't care what I took an interest in and would plop me down with a book about what ever it was that I inquired about while my mom worked. My dad worked from home. And i was extreamly active so id spend a ton of time outside catching frogs or chacing buterflys for my colection. Of course wanted to know about anything and everything as a fresh young mind, so that's what I got.


Later on in school teachers started to notice at recess iI'd run and play and race and climb on everything I wasn't suppose to. While the other girls sat aroundand talked and gosiped. Well iI hated gossip and setting around, I still do. I would get reprimanded for doing these things because I was a girl. The boys were allowed to play but girls were expected to set at the tables. I thought it was unfair and boring and i could not stand setting still, so I got yelled at every recess for not being girly. Lol After I refused to comply I noticed other girls started running and playing also, I actually made friends with some.

Now that I'm choosing my career path even my parents are stereotyping me as no being lady like in my career choice options (ie: not choosing a desk job, which I would HATE!). But mostly school personel and college personel. I actually was so worried about what people would think about one option I couldn't tell anyone for almost 2 years sense it was almost exclusively a male field despite being a job any female could easily do just as well if not better. I often think of their reactions to things ive said. Ive never wanted to do anything grose or weird so idk what their problem is. Its actually kinda funny thinking back. I have no plan to listen to them. I will do what ever the hell I want to just like I always have lol. All I know at this point is I want to do many things, id like to try out all my interests!

Even now I talk with other girls my age about our careers and I mention some of my thoughts and quite a few say "Omg! I've always wanted to do that! Or that sounds so fun and interesting" while they dont seem very interested in their own choice like "its ok i guess" And I wonder, were these people stereotyped like iI was and are now in college for a conditioned thought about how they must fit our society?


So how have others been influenced or exposed to gender stereotypes? Does anyone really skip their dream job because of not being 'manly or girly enough'?

[Living For Love]

You should never let society and stereotypes tell you what to do with your life. Chase the career you want, the one that makes you happy and completes you as a person. Don't choose something only because it's a girly job, or your parents want you to do it. It's you life, it's your career, not theirs.

I don't think I've ever suffered from stereotyping. When I was younger, I'd stick with other boys of my class, but nowadays I don't really have much interest about "boys subjects", such as football, electronic music and sports in general, things that all the boys I know like. It's really stupid that people judge us based on some ideals that describe the "normal and standard boy or girl". Each person is unique, stereotypes are just one of the many things that are wrong in our society.

[Katiya]

You should never let society and stereotypes tell you what to do with your life. Chase the career you want, the one that makes you happy and completes you as a person. Don't choose something only because it's a girly job, or your parents want you to do it. It's you life, it's your career, not theirs.

I don't think I've ever suffered from stereotyping. When I was younger, I'd stick with other boys of my class, but nowadays I don't really have much interest about "boys subjects", such as football, electronic music and sports in general, things that all the boys I know like. It's really stupid that people judge us based on some ideals that describe the "normal and standard boy or girl". Each person is unique, stereotypes are just one of the many things that are wrong in our society.


Yeah, I never plan to pick a job just because of a stereotype. I always have done what I've wanted and always will. I'm just curious if others have had this same experience or if I just live in a stereotypical place lol

[LouBerry]

Definitely. I tell people that I'm going into law, and then maybe running for Congress someday, and men laugh at me. Someone the other day told me that my place was at home, not running the country. It's annoying, but I don't let it get to me.

[Katiya]

Definitely. I tell people that I'm going into law, and then maybe running for Congress someday, and men laugh at me. Someone the other day told me that my place was at home, not running the country. It's annoying, but I don't let it get to me.

Oh isn't that so annoying! Thats the worst IMO Being told women can not run government positions or hold any high ranked job. I say go for it and prove everybody wrong!! It doesn't bother me much. Its my life and my choice. My parents are a tad more supportive now that they know I will only do what I want to with my life.

I've had people say my soul purpose is to have children because I'm female. What a load of horse crap! I hate kids with a passion and it shows lol. I figure they must just be teasing me because they are giving me way to much credit for my tolerance of snot rockets. Lol

[Tarannosaurus]

Because of gender stereotyping I am the only girl in my physics class. Out of my whole year group I'm the only girl that seems to want to take physics. Also there's 6 girls in my higher maths class of about 28 people. I know girls that are well able to do physics and higher maths but are hesitant to try it, much more hesitant than the boys. I often get the feeling that some people are intimidated by me simply because I don't conform to my gender stereotype.

For example at a science fair I was taking part in, a man was talking to the boys about robots then turned around to the girls and said "and I suppose you all want to be nurses and teachers?" When people ask stuff like that and I say, "actually I want to be a geophysicist or a particle physicist" they seem shocked. I've had similar reactions to wanting to be an architect or an engineer. A lot of my female friends do seem to want to be teachers and I think that's sad, they have so much potential but when I suggest other jobs they'd be suited for they say that they wouldn't be able to.

[Desuetude]

Yep I'm a lot more of a tom boy than a girl. To be honest I consider myself a pretty shit girl so I'm not surprised other people see it as well. My parents are constantly trying to buy me frilly tops and shit taking me into the girls section but black jeans and a band top is fine for me. I've been mistaken for a boy when I'm out many a time because of the clothes I wear and the fact that I always have my hair in a bun (hair is a pain I do fuck all with it - very un-girl like).
Because of gender stereotyping I am the only girl in my physics class. Out of my whole year group I'm the only girl that seems to want to take physics.
I can relate. I'm the only girl in my year that took electronics. People look at me strangely for that as well. Again the stereotype says that boys are the ones that should be getting their hands dirty building circuits and boys are considered better at maths which is needed for electronics so I guess many girls weren't sure of the subject.

To be honest, I don't care if people stereotype me as a tom boy. I get much worse stereotypes and really I kind of like not being classed in the same group as the slutty twats that seem to rule my school.

[Ozymandias]

Gender stereotypes are very much present in our society today and they will remain alive for the next few decades. The severity of gender stereotypes is directly related to the eco-social development of your country/region.

Today, I find it hard to believe that African-Americans were forced to undergo brutal treatment 60 years from now. I find it hard to believe that people used to be killed because they wanted to have same sex marriage. Similarly, future humans will laugh at our current batch of orthodox hypocrites who encourage baseless discrimination on the basis of gender, nationality, skin color, money, race, etc.

[Katiya]

Yep I'm a lot more of a tom boy than a girl. To be honest I consider myself a pretty shit girl so I'm not surprised other people see it as well. My parents are constantly trying to buy me frilly tops and shit taking me into the girls section but black jeans and a band top is fine for me. I've been mistaken for a boy when I'm out many a time because of the clothes I wear and the fact that I always have my hair in a bun (hair is a pain I do fuck all with it - very un-girl like).

I can relate. I'm the only girl in my year that took electronics. People look at me strangely for that as well. Again the stereotype says that boys are the ones that should be getting their hands dirty building circuits and boys are considered better at maths which is needed for electronics so I guess many girls weren't sure of the subject.

To be honest, I don't care if people stereotype me as a tom boy. I get much worse stereotypes and really I kind of like not being classed in the same group as the slutty twats that seem to rule my school.


Haha! I don't mess with my hair much either. 99% of the time its in a ponytail because I don't want to mess with it in knots and have it in my face. In school I would wear the same as you, shirt and jeans. I enjoy cloths more now but I like cloths like jeans and tight shirts or anything that fits with my active lifestyle. I rarely wear any heals and when I do I usually regret not having sneakers or running shoes as that's always when I find someone who wants to go for a run or hike or do something active. Lol

I'm glad I'm not and never was in the slut bin. I've never cared for any of that catty bulshit. That's probably my biggest give away, I don't act catty or sweet or submissive I just say what ever the hell I want. Its much simpler that way.