The Negative Effects Of Gender Stereotypes

Today, most people only know of two genders, male and female, and are pressured into upholding the gender norms their sex and society determines. Children are raised to obey these social norms, and the concept is reinforced through the media. The positive effects of having more diversity in the media are clear when one is aware of what is happening right now. Imagine two children, perhaps brother and sister, growing up in today’s society. The young, impressionable boy thinks it is acceptable to sexualize women because his favorite singer does it, and the girl learns that this is how society functions and that she, too, is just an object for men to enjoy. The girl sits down to watch My Little Pony to develop her compassion and communication …show more content…
The children grow up seeing a mix of genders in their shows, which do not have a strictly male or female cast. Since they are not expected to stay in a gender bubble, the girl enjoys superhero shows and the boy watches princess shows without fear of ridicule. They may still identify as their sex, but they are not limited to enjoying certain activities like playing dolls or trucks. The children grow up with a healthy sense of self and are comfortable with who they are. They learned to be more accepting of other genders because they heard about them in popular music, watched them on television, and enjoyed them in video games. This is a better world: one that accepts all genders and works to incorporate them into …show more content…
Introducing different genders in the media will raise awareness of non-binary people, and those exposed to this diversified media will better understand their own gender as well. This change is a continuous one that will take time for some to understand, so it is best to lead society into these ideas by slowly incorporating non-binary characters. Society has already begun to take a step in the right direction as people are realizing that they do not have to uphold gender norms. While Corradi calls claiming to be non-binary a fad and hopes that it will soon fade as “common sense” prevails (19), sources show that the non-binary is here to stay. McInroy and Craig do point out that transgender (non-binary) people are being increasingly portrayed in the media (606) and that there are many online resources available to aid transgender people in their gender development and inclusion in their communities (613). This has been supported as numerous blogs and various YouTube channels have recently surfaced to discuss only gender issues, thus showing that the people need to push for these changes. The people alter what the media distributes and by supporting companies that are adapting to this modern age and abandoning those that refuse to change, society can truly begin to take action against these