Conforming to Cultural Stereotypes Essay example - 1771 Words

Stereotypes have most likely been around since the dawn of time and will continue to be around for as long as people continue to make assumptions about other people based on their race, gender, religious views, or social class. Everyone has been pressured since infancy to convert to the stereotypes within their society. Perhaps this is not a negative reaction, seeing as majority of people convert to stereotypes and social norms without even a fighting word. Most children will believe their parents or guardians when told certain activities are bad or not for their gender, and will continue to follow these set rules to be a â€Å"good kid† and gain the approval of their guardians, which lead to the desire for them to gain the approval of society.†¦show more content†¦An example of this is the concept that women are more likely to associate feminine traits with themselves rather than the masculine traits which can be seen as negative (Lun 119). Though this is also an exa mple of social norm sand gender roles which are introduced at infancy and continue throughout life. Social norms are the concept that society sees as being the customary expectations anticipated of people in their culture. They range from the everyday activities of smiling at strangers to the expectancy of how children will conduct themselves based upon their sex. This expectancy is known as gender roles. Gender roles can be seen by the image provided by Miss Representation (1). Miss Representation depicts two concepts, the first picture is of Barbie commonly known for being one of the most popular toys for little girls, and the second picture is of G.I. Joe which is also known for being one of the most popular toys but for little boys. From the very beginning of children’s lives they are forced into a set gender, usually by their parents or other guardians. This is seen when babies wear pink for girls and blue for boys, boys play with trucks and girls play with dolls, etc. T his type of conforming can be detrimental to a child’s development because they are being forced to imitate actions and beliefs that they may not naturallyShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis Of Ruth Gomberg Munoz s Labor And Legality : An Ethnography Of A Mexican Immigrant Network1444 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"illegal aliens† in the United States, discusses the a few common stereotypes Americans have of undocumented Mexican workers. I want to start of discussing the Lions and their significant cultural ideals. The main focuses are how different cultural values and/or ideals help people manage their lives. 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