Codes Of Gender: The Stereotypes Of Gender

There is a multitude of stereotypes associated with individuals’ biology/ sex. When a woman gives birth, she is usually asked for the binary sex of the baby, whether the individual is a male or a female. Since birth, society has placed labels on individuals that grow with them throughout life. Society expects certain norms if one is a female or a male biologically that include the toys that one plays with, to a larger problem of stereotyping women as weak and men as powerful. As discussed in lectures, responses, visuals, and the two documentaries, I believe that anatomy is not destiny. An individual should be treated simply as an individual, not as one conforming to social ideals/ the social construct. In the documentary, Codes of Gender, …show more content…
They cannot understand/ fathom the society that is around them. This implies that women are weak and unintelligent. They just seem to go with the flow, instead of having the power to shape their destiny and impact the world around them. Women are also shown as lying down to imply that they are submissive, powerless, and dependent. Goffman explains that we can see how odd it is that women are depicted in this way, if we look at men depicted in a similar fashion. If men are shown lying down, or as objects to gaze at, it seems strange to us. They are then seen as gay or not manly enough. Gay men are portrayed similarly to women, as weak, subordinate, and submissive. The article, “Seeing Privilege Where It Isn’t” further explores this issue. Coston and Kimmel explicate that “gay, working class, or disabled men are seen as “not men””(179). Moreover, women in ads are sometimes infantilized and sexualized as well. Women never seem to never leave girlhood behind as little girls and women are presented the same. Women are sometimes presented with their thumb in their mouth, in a fetal pose, and other demeaning ways. They are depicted as if they want to return to childhood because maturity and responsibility is too much to handle. …show more content…
Throughout history, women were strong leaders and held an immense amount of power in their communities. In the documentary, ‘Ascent of Women’ it explains that in history, women were not always excluded and treated as secondary. For example, in Inhidduana, women were appointed as high priestesses, one of the most respected positions in society. They were confident and strong leaders. Women thrived in history. In the Eurasian Steppes, women were found in the nomadic burial sites with tools and even with weapons! In some instances, women’s social roles were higher than men. Women were warriors and their roles weren’t confined. No one limited their potential and society valued women. They were not treated as ‘property’ and birthing children was not their sole purpose. Biology was not everything in these historical societies. The ‘ice maiden’ was found in the Altai Mountains as well. She had six horses buried with her, altars, a leather pouch- revealing that she was a religious leader, and with a really long hat, which depicted her very high status and power. Women could do anything they desired to do and no one prevented them from climbing the social ladder. They were equal to men. There was no gender inequality, as women were highly valued. In addition, in Ancient Egypt citizenship always included women. The legal status of women was almost identical to the legal status of men. Many women ruled as Pharaohs, strong women like,