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Michelle Laney
Professor Ditch
English 114A
06 November 2014
Gender Stereotyping
Gender stereotyping are often seen throughout Western society. The media sets out
guidelines such as women to be feminine and men to be masculine; individuals are expected to
follow them in order to be accepted in society. Women are expected to be submissives and work
at home while males are expected to be dominants and have jobs such as firefighting. This is
very problematic because these unrealistic influences lead viewers to act upon these rules and
possibly go to extreme lengths in order to be accepted. Gender stereotypes are harshly used by
conformists in the public eye by judging those who appear to be nonconformist and this makes
viewers discouraged to be themselves because it does not fit the ideal image of normal.
Although, if theres a positive light in the media, things can be changed for certain individuals
such as gaining confidence within themselves and neglect all misleading stereotypes.
The picture I have used for my visual text is from the television show on MTV called
Girl Code. Girl Code is a comedy television series that have groups of women talking bout the
rights and wrongs that male and females should follow. The picture I chose consists of a cast
member named Carly Aquilino sending out a negative stereotype of both a male and female. The
scene quotes I think women will stop lying about being good drivers, when guys stop lying
about what eight inches really is. This is very problematic because she talks about wrong
information about gender; her statement can affect both women and men in a negative way such

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as self-harm and self-doubt. Not only is just this scene situational, but the whole whole consists
of negative stereotypes of men and women, mainly women. For example, they talk about how
women should always be properly groomed in order to be feminine, and they stress that women
can not be the dominant factor in many relationships.
Western society assigns codes that women and men can be disapproving of and they're
then expected to live their lives with these expectations that they cannot live up to. Rebecca J.
Cook, a Professor of Law and Faculty Chair in International Human Rights, notes in her book
Gender Stereotyping: Transnational Legal Perspectives, To the extent that stereotypes ignore
particular individuals needs, wishes, abilities, and circumstances, they significantly impact their
ability to create and/or shape their individual identities according to their own values and wishes .
They also limit the full and diverse expressions of human character (Cook 11). What Cook is
explaining in her quote is how individuals are losing their character because theyre concentrated
in trying to fit in by appearance. Stereotypes that are thrown around are unrealistic but some
individuals are willing to do anything to fit these norms. For example, women in Western society
who are unhappy with their appearance are known to get surgery done such as tummy tucks,
breast augmentations and nose jobs. While men who are unhappy with their appearance often
take steroids, or have surgeries done such as implants in the chest or arms.
In Western society, media sources such as television shows, magazines and social media
are constantly judging the appearance and characteristics of women. In professor Aaron Devors
text, Becoming Members of Society in Composing Gender, he states . . . femininity must be
expressed through modes of dress, movement, speech, and action which communicate weakness,
dependency, ineffectualness, availability for sexual or emotional service, and sensitivity to the

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needs of others (Devor 41). Society manipulates women to be sensitive and dependent;
although realistically in todays society, women are doing much more than being dependent.
Such as, women in office and are taking many jobs that would be considered a mans job such
as doctors, lawyers and police officers. Although women are getting equal rights as men the
workfield, theyre always criticized for their appearance. Media sources are judging appearance
through popular television shows like Fashion Police on E!, Americas Next Top Model on The
CW or What Not To Wear on TLC. Many of these shows judge individuals, majority of them are
women, and they convert them into what they believe to be an presentable people in society. The
reality of women is not all women are 6 feet tall and weigh under 100 pounds; researchers from
Center of Disease Control and Prevention have studied that the average women in the United
States weigh around 160 pounds and are 52. The media only focuses on stereotypes that are
desirable and unrealistic; they do not focus enough attention on individuals who do not meet the
standards.
Not only are women being judged because of popular culture, but many men have
stereotypes that are harshly used in the public eye. These stereotypes include men being
masculine, tough, independent, insensitive, built and handsome. In professor Aaron Devors text,
Becoming Members of Society in Composing Gender, he states Persons who display success
and high status in their social group, who exhibit a manly air of toughness, confidence, and self
reliance and the aura of aggression, violence, and daring, and who consciously avoid anything
associated with femininity are seen as excluding masculinity (Devor 42). Many of these harshly
used stereotypes towards men can manipulate a man to put on a gender performance which is
strong. This can be problematic because in reality, not everyone can fulfill the idea of being

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insensitive. Another stereotype is the common appearance of a man being masculine. Shows
such as American Gladiator on NBC promote strong men completing obstacles using their
muscles. If the men in the show do not complete these obstacles, they are then not viewed as a
hero. To many individuals, this just may seem like a friendly competition; but in all honesty,
these men and sometimes even women try their absolute hardest to train to look tough in front of
the camera. Men who do not have large muscles are not considered manly. This can be
difficult for men to cope with because they might not be able to gain these muscles . So they have
a harmful alternative of getting surgery. These surgeries consist of chest, arm and leg implants
for a larger body appearance. This is very situational for men because they are losing who they
are as individuals and theyre satisfying the needs of society.
Ways in which these wrong stereotypes can disappear is the positive light of popular
culture. I believe celebrities are often seen as role models to many young and older individuals .
If celebrities or media such as commercials or television shows come up with positive messages
for viewers, people will not discriminate one another based off of their gender performance. An
example that a celebrity sends out a realistic message of women is Tina Fey, she quotes Every
girl is expected to have caucasian blue eyes, full Spanish lips, a classic button nose, hairless
Asian skin with a California tan, a Jamaican hall behind, long Swedish legs, small japanese feet,
the abs of a lesbian gym owner, the hips of a nine-year-old boy, the arms of Michelle Obama and
doll tits. This is why everyone is struggling. Messages like these are pointed in the right
direction of individuals to follow. Danielle Moodie-Mills an educator, advocate and government
affairs specialist has made several claims about the media, she quotes Consequently, popular
culture, and the emergence of unprecedented powerful female characters on TV, has begun to

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change the way young women view strength and femininity. Thanks to characters like Kerry
Washington's Olivia Pope, women can be sharp and chic at the same time, no longer having to
trade one characteristic for the other in fear of not being taken seriously (Mills). When a
powerful celebrity sends out positive messages, people will absorb the information and follow
what they are saying. Instead of comedy shows such as Guy Code and Girl Code that negatively
portrays men and women to follow unrealistic stereotypes, there can be positive commercials
that promotes feminism.
Gender stereotyping in the public eye can cause great damage to an individuals health
and mind. Shows such as Girl Code can manipulate men and women to follow these gender
stereotypes such as looking a certain way and acting out of your character to fit the ideal image
of perfect. Women do not need to look like a Victoria Secret model and act like a housewife in
order to be accepted in society. Also, men do not need to look and act like bodybuilders in order
to be considered real men. These wrong ideas that are implanted in peoples head can make them
turn to something as harsh as surgery to fix their appearance. Ways in which stereotypes can
drop out of sight is for the popular culture to promote positive aspects of men and women such
as women getting jobs that were once considered a mans job, and for men to be stay at home
fathers that were once seens as a woman's job. Gender stereotypes need to be put to rest and
individuals need to focus on being themselves without the fear of not being accepted.

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Works Cited
Cook, Rebecca J., and Cusack, Simone. Pennsylvania Studies in Human Rights :
Gender Stereotyping : Transnational Legal Perspectives. Philadelphia, PA, USA: University of
Pennsylvania Press, 2011. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 6 November 2014.
Devor, Aaron. "Becoming Members of Society." Composing Gender. By Rachael Groner
and John F. O'Hara. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2014. Print.
Moodie-Mills, Danielle. "Can Beyonc's Celebrity Reshape Feminism?" Memphis, Tenn,
USA: Tri - State Defender: 9. Mar 2014. ProQuest. Web. 6 Nov. 2014.