FabSwingers.com forum: Gender Stereotyping

By *ssex_tom OP Man
over a year ago

Chelmsford

Reading reports that gender stereotyping in primary schools can cause a 'lifetime of harm' and should be challenged... Is this true.. ?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Well I wasn’t so much stereotyped but the odd spelling of my name makes it look very similar to a ‘boys’ name so every new teacher I had would assume I was a boy cos they didn’t read it properly.

Didn’t do me any harm. I still now at the age of 42 have to spell my name out to people and look at the weird look on their faces cos they think I’m lying or something.

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By *rPeachyMan
over a year ago

Bristol

I guess all of us are old enough to have been subjected to this at primary school, I'm sure someone will pipe up if they have been affected by it.

I'm not sure that having no gender stereotypes (whatever that actually is) at school is a good thing, as seems to be the fashion these days. It's meant to prepare us for our adult life after all as men or women.

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By *ssex_tom OP Man
over a year ago

Chelmsford

I may be wrong but lots of psychological observations seem to suggest that if you put under fives in a room of toys ...most boys gravitate one way and the girls another....

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By *rPeachyMan
over a year ago

Bristol

"I may be wrong but lots of psychological observations seem to suggest that if you put under fives in a room of toys ...most boys gravitate one way and the girls another...."
Indeed, despite our lofty evolution amongst the animal kingdom we are not devoid of innate behaviours

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I tried on the heels in the dress up box in reception and got told off by the teacher. She even told my Mum lol. So i guess that counts lol

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By *uenevereWoman
over a year ago

Scunthorpe

Stereotyping children from a young age is one of the reasons few women go into maths / science type roles.

It also bugs the hell out of me thst all "girl" toys are pink. I was never a girly girl.

I was fortunate to be brought up to play with whatever I wanted and was supported in my decision to take subjects percieved as male at school. I was the only girl in one of my classes and the school tried to talk me out of it. My mum was having none of that!

Women are still judged on their looks and often assumed to be lacking in intelligence if they're attractive.

There's a huge expectation for women to have children too. Just because a woman can have children doesn't mean she should and if she does, nor should she be expected to be the main child carer.

This expectation is one of the main reasons women earn less and find it harder to progress in their careers.

You might have guessed this is something I feel strongly about...

We have moved forward but there's some way to go yet.

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By *rPeachyMan
over a year ago

Bristol

Here here. I guess the subject of what is meant by gender stereotyping by the op is open to individual interpretation

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By *yron69Man
over a year ago

Fareham

I had long hair until 74. With two older sisters I was often and still am referred to as girlish. I look like a biker though. I’m happy and love the scope.

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By *ssex_tom OP Man
over a year ago

Chelmsford

Vivre la difference or Vivre Le difference...

But let's not not criticize women for being feminine

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I had long hair until 74. With two older sisters I was often and still am referred to as girlish. I look like a biker though. I’m happy and love the scope."

But you’re only 51 now!

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By *ad NannaWoman
over a year ago

East London

You reading reports? Nope, not true at all.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Vivre la difference or Vivre Le difference...

But let's not not criticize women for being feminine "

I don't think we should criticise anyone for being the way they want to be but I do believe we should be careful about how we treat people. You used the example of 5 year olds tending to gravitate towards gender stereotyped toys but by 5 a child has already gone through the most remarkable period of learning in its life. It will have learnt at least one language for a start. During that time it will have been a social spunge picking up on all kinds of cues to learn how to fit in - you only have to look at the differences in behavoir between children from different cultures to see this. One of the things a child will have picked up on is how its gender is perceived and how it best pleases those who it cares about. So a little girl who has constantly been told what a pretty little thing they are by mum and aunty and nan and dad and every stranger too is likely to place a far higher importance on her looks than a little boy who has been told by all those people how strong he is, or how clever.

A little girl only given pink 'girls' toys when presented with a choice will have already learnt what are the 'right' toys for her.

There is a lot of interesting work on gender and while there is still much debate about what is and isn't inate, it is widely understood that many behaviors once deemed typical of one sex or the other are socially driven, not biological.

It has been demonstrated that both male and female teachers tend to use different language to describe boys and girls, tend to write more detail about boys achievements whilst concentrating on girls hard work and ability to work with others. It is incredibly hard to quantify the effect of these behaviours but equally as important that we attempt to do so and understand them.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I may be wrong but lots of psychological observations seem to suggest that if you put under fives in a room of toys ...most boys gravitate one way and the girls another...."

When my daughter was a toddler she used to play with my best friends son who was the same age. He used to love playing house and especially loved using the toy iron and ironing board. His father was a medic in the Army and was horrified at this - he preferred him to play with guns and other “manly” toys. He grew up to be a chef and is a kind, peace loving man but not effeminate in any way.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I do feel young boys should be taught from that age that women are terrible drivers

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By *ittleMissCaliWoman
over a year ago

all loved up

"I do feel young boys should be taught from that age that women are terrible drivers "
oh brave comment... that's like saying that young girls should be taught that men are liars

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I do feel young boys should be taught from that age that women are terrible drivers oh brave comment... that's like saying that young girls should be taught that men are liars"

I agree with both

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By *ittleMissCaliWoman
over a year ago

all loved up

"I do feel young boys should be taught from that age that women are terrible drivers oh brave comment... that's like saying that young girls should be taught that men are liars

I agree with both "

Aww but see I am a very good driver... including previously holding a race and rally licence ( not got it anymore as cant afford to keep up with it)

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I've worn nail polish from a young age. I've had parents, teachers, managers all question it (some aggressively so). My favourite colour is pink. I like what I like and, as it is not doing harm to others, I defend my right to keep doing it, including taking it to court. And yes, I won.

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By *rouble1998Woman
over a year ago

Newcastle upon Tyne

Ive never really thought about this but it’s quite Interesting!

My primary school reports often said that I was ‘bossy’ or ‘loud’ which was obviously viewed negatively, however I don’t think I would have been labelled that way if I was male. There’s an expectation for young girls to be passive and ‘ladylike’ which I wasnt. I cant say those labels have had any lasting effects on me though.

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By *stbury DavenportMan
over a year ago

Nottingham

Gender roles should be destroyed.

The shit I got, and still get, for refusing to conform to certain absurdly narrow socially constructed norms of masculinity. And I say that as a big cishet bloke – I can't imagine what awful shit queer people must go through, even now.

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By *yron69Man
over a year ago

Fareham

"I had long hair until 74. With two older sisters I was often and still am referred to as girlish. I look like a biker though. I’m happy and love the scope.

But you’re only 51 now!

I look 79!

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