adminGibson Mhaka
Perpetuation of gender stereotyping is one of the worst forms of violence against women that holds back their full potential.
There is no doubt that gender stereotyping more than gender-based violence degrades women, diminishes their dignity, marginalises them at the same time debasing their competence. It also hampers their equal participation in the public sphere.
According to 2012 UN report on Eliminating Gender Stereotypes: “. . . traditional gender roles and stereotypes continue to have a strong influence on the division of roles between women and men in the home, in the workplace and in society at large, with women depicted as running the house and caring for children while men are depicted as wage-earners and protectors”.
A case in point of gender stereotyping is when a crime or social misdemeanour is committed by both a man and a woman, the society quickly rushes to blame the latter concurrently labelling all women with the same brush in a manner that leaves men as blameless catalysts who walk away with no misfit label tattooed to their image.
Gender stereotyping refers to discrimination based on one’s sex. It may involve unfair treatment or infringement upon the rights of a certain sex requiring them to act in a certain manner. It is greatly influenced by culture and upbringing.
Stereotypes can be positive or negative. A negative stereotype forms when people over-generalise anecdotes about someone of a certain gender, race, sexual orientation or nationality and seek to convince the society that it is a universal truth about their entire kind.
It may be argued that when people, mostly men automatically apply gender assumptions to women regardless of evidence to the contrary, they are perpetuating gender stereotyping.
Traditionally, the female stereotypic role is in the bedroom and kitchen. She is to cook, marry and have children. She is also expected to put her family’s welfare before her own, be loving, compassionate and sympathetic and find time to be sexy and feel beautiful.
On the other hand, the male stereotypic role is to be a financial provider. He is to be assertive, competitive, courageous, and career-focused and always initiate sex.
These sorts of stereotypes, if logically observed, can prove to be harmful as they can stifle individual expression and creativity as well as hinder personal and professional growth.
Culturally, the ideal male is expected to be competent, confident, strong, and aggressive and is a leader while the ideal female should be warm, emotional, kind, polite, friendly, and fashionable and is a follower.
Indeed, research has shown that these gender stereotypes are a result of ‘‘nurture’’ more than ‘‘nature’’. It goes without saying that despite the changing realities, gender stereotypes remain deeply ingrained, still very vivid and consistent.
From the above observations, it is clear that gender stereotypes restrict women to culturally acceptable roles or behaviour while stigmatising and punishing those who fail to conform to such roles or behaviours thereby making them guilty or responsible for provoking violent acts and reactions by men.
In this way violence against women is likely to be widely tolerated and considered by the society as a private matter, instead of a grave violation of human rights.
If followed and fully observed, these stereotypes can create dangerous consequences that can limit a person, especially a woman’s full potential and wellbeing. Because of these stereotypes, women are forced to ignore their personality traits, temperament and unique characteristics that make them who they are.
Gender apologist G Soh in his book, Men Are From Earth. Women Are From Earth: Deal With It” admits that while some things have changed, some seem to have stayed the same, adding that there are more similarities than differences between men and women, even anatomically.
He said men and women have the same desires, wants, dreams and fears before he asked: “In a world where there is no perfect man and no perfect woman, do we have more in common than we would like to admit?”
South Western Region Gender Network (SWRGN) co-ordinator Chelesile Nyathi said the perpetuation of gender stereotypes disempowers women since they are being regarded or seen as inferior to their male counterparts.
She reiterated that gender stereotyping should be eradicated by making the ground level for both men and women as well as by politically and economically empowering women.
“There is no doubt that gender stereotyping disempowers women in different ways since they are made to rely on their male counterparts under the notion that they cannot do anything of significance in their lives. Basically these gender stereotypes socialised women into a belief that they are inferior to men thereby reducing their quality of life and lowering their expectations.
“The political, social and economic ground should be level for both men and women and this will help to unpack some of the stereotypes which involve the unfair treatment of women and infringement upon their rights. There is also need to educate men on the rights of women and dangers of gender stereotyping since they are the agents of those stereotypes,” she said.
The weight of scientific evidence demonstrates that children learn gender stereotypes from adults and that some socialising agents like schools, churches and the media are failing to play their roles of adequately unpacking stereotypes and false myths that justify or minimise any manifestations of violence against women.
Another gender activist Mr Tapiwa Sikwila who is with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development said the role of the media is of great importance in raising awareness regarding the issue of gender stereotyping.
He said the training of journalists and all media professionals was extremely significant to facilitate a transformation of those ideas, attitudes and prejudices that lead or justify violence and to overcome the gender stereotypes as well as the portrayal of women as sex objects.
This is so because of all the stereotypes, the sexual stereotyping of men and women has a profound impact on our society.
“The eradication of gender stereotypes should be a priority in the work to advance women’s rights and gender equality in our country. It should be acknowledged that the media as a socialising agent, should strike a balance between men and females by portraying females as equals to their male counterparts,” said Mr Sikwila.
Indeed, the society is guilty of exploiting the differences between men and women and of exaggerating sex stereotypes of men and women to sell products. Sex especially on the side of women, is treated as a commodity to be exploited for profit. In the advertisements, naked female bodies are used to sell everything and many television shows portray women as ornaments that almost naked and silent.
Politicians are not spared either as they have also increasingly used sexist expressions, which stress the importance of beauty as a success factor for women in politics and in their career development.
To fight these prevailing gender stereotypes there is need to promote professional training on gender violence for all professionals likely to come in contact with potential victims (women) of gender stereotyping such as the police, church leaders, teachers, lawyers, social and health workers.
The raising of awareness on gender violence programmes is of fundamental importance because it destroys stereotypes that justify any manifestations of aggression against women.
Education programmes for primary and secondary schools and for universities have to be developed to educate the younger generations on gender relations and sexuality. These programmes should offer positive models which guide in building new, respectful and more balanced relationship between sexes based on the respect of the fundamental human rights and dignity of everybody.
Perhaps the best way that can bring change in our society is when men become aware of their own biases and stereotypes in the same way they see women’s. Psychologists say that every human being has both masculine and feminine parts to themselves and the integrations of these parts lead to psychological well being and balance.
Online Reporter