challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
Dr. Vasantha Kandasamy
Mathematics Department
Indian Institute of Technology
Chennai – 36, India.
Chief Guest Address delivered
at the inauguration of the
Forum of Women Students at
the Loyola College, Chennai.
challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
 Oversimplified belief that
men and women possess
different personality traits
that lead them to different
experiences and behaviours
 Stereotype of a gender is
based on the stereotype of
the opposite gender
definition &
understanding
challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
Imposition of expected
norms of behaviour
Justification of Gender
Inequality
Subjugation,
subordination
Institutionalization of
stereotypes – even women
accept patriarchy
consequent
effects
challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
Sugar and spice and everything nice,
That's what little girls are made of.
Snips and snails and puppydog tails,
That's what little boys are made of.
 Toys, Cartoons, Storybooks
 Dressing, Attire and Colour
 Behaviour – girls must be
polite, boys should be playful
childhood
challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
“Daddy in the office, mommy in the
kitchen”
 Syllabus
 Co-curricular activities --Music, Dance, Sports
 Less intelligent, more social
 Lack of women heroic
characters
 Teachers attitude – marking
schemes – co-ed schools
schooling
challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
• Science subjects
• Education only for being a
‘suitable bride’
• “Job after marriage”
remains a “?”
• Pink collar jobs
• Parental attitude:
Plan careers for the son,
Marriage for the daughter.
• Career vs. Family --situation of women vs. men
college and
careers
challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
 Rampant discrimination
 Less chances of promotion
 Recognition of women’s merit
 Harassment
 Disrespect and scant regard
 Salary – cinema, labour
 “Typical Women” vs. women not
conforming to expected norms
 Mediocrity
 “ADJUSTMENT”
workplace
challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
HE
SHE
Has a family picture
on the desk. A
responsible family
man!
Has a family picture
on the desk. She
places family before
career.
Has a cluttered
desk. He’s a hard
worker.
Has a cluttered
desk. What a
disorganized
scatterbrain!
Is going on a
business trip. Its
good for his career.
Is going on a
business trip. What
will her husband say?
workplace
examples
challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
HE
SHE
Is talking with coIs talking with coworkers. Must be
workers. Must be
discussing the latest gossiping.
deal!
Isn’t at his desk.
Must be at a
meeting.
Isn’t at her desk.
Must be in the
toilet.
Is getting married.
He will be more
settled.
Is getting married.
She will get
pregnant and leave.
workplace
examples 2
challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
HE
SHE
Is having lunch with
the boss. He’s on
the way up!
Is having lunch with
the boss. They must
be having an affair.
Was criticized by his Was criticized by
boss. He’ll improve the boss. She must
his performance
be getting upset.
now.
Is having a baby. He
needs a raise.
Is having a baby.
She’ll cost the
company plenty in
maternity leave.
workplace
examples 3
challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
Women's and Men's Bodies
are Represented Differently
If you glance through magazine
advertisements, you'll notice that women
are much more likely than men to serve a
decorative function. Women recline in
seductive clothing, caressing a liquor bottle,
or they drape themselves coyly on the
nearest male. They bend their bodies at a
ludicrous angle, or they look as helpless as
6-year-olds. They also may be painfully
thin. In contrast, men stand up, they look
competent, and they look purposeful
(Jones, 1991).
media &
advertising
challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
• SITA – Chastity Test
• NALAYINI – Will any man do?
• KANNAGI – Accepting the improper
conduct of men
• CURRENT DAY “ROLE-MODELS”
manMADE LANGUAGE Words of Abuse –
prostitute, also in regional languages:
pativrata women. Vs. patnivrata men
JUSTICE, LIBERTY representations of, but
practice
“role-models”
“traditions”
challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
• AIDS Campaigns –
advertisements “When you
have a wife, why do you need
the prostitutes?”
• Women’s health – Childbirth
and Pregnancy
• Body image – consciousness
• “Blaming the victim”
• Attitude of men – why they
continue so --“masculinity”
health
awareness
challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
 CHALLENGE GENDER
STEREOTYPES
 EDUCATE, AGITATE,
ORGANIZE – Babasaheb
Dr. Ambedkar
 EMPOWER YOURSELF –
higher education,
employment, business
what CAN
be done
challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS –
Being a feminist – equal rights,
50% representative reservation
BE COURAGEOUS
TRANSFORM PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE
what CAN
be done
challenging GENDER
stereotypes …
Workplace Issues and Trends,
http://www.assureconsulting.com/wo
rkplace/gender.shtml
Bimbos and Rambos: How
gender stereotypes influence
our cognitive processes
http://www.psichi.org/pubs/articles/
article_112.asp
References