In the American culture, we are shaped with the idea that boys and girls are different, therefore we should act differently. It is evident that our society has created behavioral expectations that shape our perceptions on gender. These gender norms are instilled in us at birth and continue throughout our developmental stages of adolescence. During early childhood, we are taught that girls are associated with soft and pastel colors to show that girls are fragile and feminine, while boys are associated with bold and dark colors to show that boys are tough and masculine. As young men hit puberty, they are taught to bury their emotions and to tough it out. They are taught to mask their feelings because society does not allow men to show any
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We do not realize that we are conforming to societal expectations until it is brought to our attention. Some of our habits like smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are associated with gender norms. For example, gender norms in relation to smoking cigarettes. A study was conducted on college students who smoke cigarettes in a social setting. As expressed in the article, “Gendered Dimensions of Smoking Among College Students,” the study found that there are certain behaviors our society accepts certain behaviors, and those behaviors will not be criticized as long as the behavior follows the specific gender. An example in the article, women who are seen smoking have images of lacking class and perceived to be promiscuous. The images of women to be “trashy” and “sluts” are how men view women seen enjoying a cigarette. Women are also negatively perceived when they are seen smoking a cigarette alone because men view women smoking as a habit done with in a group of other women. The women know the perception placed on them because they agree with the men and their views of women in regards to smoking a cigarette. Therefore, women are often reluctant to smoke alone because they know their behavior is being watched and observed harshly by
We do not realize that we are conforming to societal expectations until it is brought to our attention. Some of our habits like smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are associated with gender norms. For example, gender norms in relation to smoking cigarettes. A study was conducted on college students who smoke cigarettes in a social setting. As expressed in the article, “Gendered Dimensions of Smoking Among College Students,” the study found that there are certain behaviors our society accepts certain behaviors, and those behaviors will not be criticized as long as the behavior follows the specific gender. An example in the article, women who are seen smoking have images of lacking class and perceived to be promiscuous. The images of women to be “trashy” and “sluts” are how men view women seen enjoying a cigarette. Women are also negatively perceived when they are seen smoking a cigarette alone because men view women smoking as a habit done with in a group of other women. The women know the perception placed on them because they agree with the men and their views of women in regards to smoking a cigarette. Therefore, women are often reluctant to smoke alone because they know their behavior is being watched and observed harshly by