Wednesday, January 25, 2006Stereotype is an oversimplified standardized image or idea held by one person or group of another. Given today's context, we understand from gender stereotypes that they are perceptions on the roles and behaviors between both the male and female. People generally portray the image of the business world as male dominated where females are restricted to taking care of family needs due to cultural norms. Idea of exchanging roles between the genders had spark controversy and invoked discrimination from the eyes of the society.
Through the ages of human evolution, there had been domination shown from the both genders. Dated 20,000 years ago, males are especially valued due to their possession of great strength which makes them ideal and capable hunters. Some of the female counterpart was also being regarded as goddesses and the bearers of the miracle of birth at the same time. Gradually, the females became less respected.
The term "Witch" and "Women" were used synonymously. "All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman... It is not good to marry: What else is woman but a foe to friendship, an un-escapable punishment, a necessary evil, a natural temptation, a desirable calamity, a domestic danger, a delectable detriment, an evil of nature, painted with fair colors." quoted from the book (The Witches' Hammer). It shows the degradation of the females to be the follower of darkness through gender stereotyping.
What concretes to the reliability of the stereotype? If stereotyping is a standardized image, why do we beg to see difference in the abilities and characteristics among people of the same gender? The answer lies on whether the aspect is being nurtured or natured.
Taking the example of the males being regarded more superior than the females in business as an example. Only if one is able to investigate and unravel the origin and giving a logical explanation through researches, then it allows the proving of this gender stereotype. We understand that the male had the hormone, testerone, which amounted to the aggressiveness and anger. These characteristics may allow the males to be logically more decisive and partial in the business world. This had been further backed up after data analysis that among the list of the top 800 CEOs, 799 of them are males where the female only occupies 1 position.
Thus, I believe gender stereotyping can be proven or disproved by scientific research carried out rather than the social perceptions on the issues.
-JoNa-
-Jona- shot at Wednesday, January 25, 2006
I apologise for not being able to update this blog that often nowadays. I had got rather tied down with heavy schoolwork and personal affairs to attend to.
However, still do feel free to air any comments on the tag board. Or simply just here to say "Hi". I will still be monitoring this blog. =P
-JoNa-
-Jona- shot at Wednesday, January 25, 2006
