Gender stereotypes are common in contemporary society where they are entrenched into our culture and often reinforced by the media. Scholars describe it as the preconceived belief that certain roles and attributes should be performed or possessed by a particular gender, male or female. The stereotype may limit the capacity to develop personal abilities in both men and women.
A common gender stereotype that significantly impacts the male gender in most cultures is that men should be self-sufficient. This implies that men are expected to solve their problems on their own without asking for help from other people. Men who share their issues with others are deemed as weak and incapable of self-sufficiency. Also, no matter how tough the situation is, most cultures expect that men should not show their emotions and should toughen up. For instance, emotional crying is termed as a sign of weakness in men.
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The development of the self-sufficiency stereotype for men can be explained using the gender schema theory. The theory suggests that the behavior portrayed by an individual aligns with the gender norms within the individual’s culture (Davis, & Wilson, 2016). The impact of societal influence on social development is more significant in the early stages of social development of an individual. The culture, therefore, has a considerable effect on the beliefs of people on what is considered as gender-appropriate behavior. The gender schema may also determine the potential and value of an individual within a certain culture.
The continuity of the self-sufficiency stereotype in society may have a significant impact on men. Most men tend to withhold strong emotions, which often build up and lead to depression. The depression may eventually lead to suicide or other vices such as drug addictions. The young boys who grow up in this type of culture become accustomed to the stereotype and tend to appreciate it as part of their gender identity. The stereotype may also promote the oppression of women in society due to the notion that the male gender is superior to the female (Kosut, 2012). Women are often considered as a weak gender in a society that views men as self-sufficient.
References
Davis, T., & Wilson, J. M. (2016). Gender schema theory. The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality Studies, 1-3.
Kosut, M. (2012). Encyclopedia of gender in media. Sage. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781452218540.n155
