Gender Stereotypes
AMBIVALENT SEXISM
Ambivalent sexism, or benevolent sexism, affirms the ideas that women are to be compassionate and motherly and men are supposed to be strong and masculine. This impacts everyone. Men and women that do not fit in the mold of what an ‘ideal’ man or woman should be often feel as if their femininity or masculinity is invalid.
“Ambivalent or benevolent sexism refers to attitudes that view women and men in stereotypical roles, but feel “positive” or even complementary in nature. Ambivalent or benevolent sexism usually originates in an idealization of traditional gender roles: Women are “naturally” more kind, emotional, and compassionate, while men are “naturally” more rational, less emotional, and “tougher,” mentally and physically. Translated into the workplace, ambivalent or benevolent sexism is behind the assumption that women are naturally better administrative assistants or naturally prepared to organize buying a gift for the boss. Because they’re “better” at it.
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Research shows that ambivalent sexism has lasting, harmful effects. First, the presence and acceptance of ambivalent sexism usually coincides with the acceptance of hostile sexism, according to Peter Glick and Susan Fiske, the researchers who really started breaking ground on ambivalent sexism in the mid-1990s. They found that in countries where the men were likely to condone benevolent sexism, men had longer life expectancies, were more educated, had higher literacy rates, made more money, and were more politically active than women.”
—Women are Kind and Men are Strong: How Benevolent Sexism Hurts Us All, Rikki Rogers
TOXIC MASCULINITY
The term toxic masculinity is a way of describing harmful behaviors associated with societal norms and stereotypes around what it means to be male or masculine. These include seeing men only as violent creatures, emotionless beings, and sexual predators. Males can experience “an overall sense of hopelessness and despair, put into play and reinforced by the mixed signals society sends about ‘what's expected of them as boys, and later as men’” (Heinrich).
“In some ways, bullying and other forms of coercion and violence are part of what has been termed toxic masculinity, a form of masculinity that creates hierarchies favoring some and victimizing others. Disrupting these forms of toxic masculinity benefits boys and men, rather than attacks and blames man for these behaviors. In addition, boys and men of color deal with obstacles and challenges that are not as pronounced or even present for most white boys and men. Socioeconomic factors also greatly impact one's opportunities [sic]. Moreover, boys and men who are gay, queer, or transgender also face challenges that heterosexual, cis-males rarely face, unless as part of bullying, hazing rituals, or violence that can affect anyone. But they are also subjective differences in the ways boys and men, just like girls and women, are treated based on physical features such as height, weight, complexion, athletic abilities, and being able bodied.”
—Masculinities in Contemporary American Culture: An Intersectional Approach to the Complexities and Challenges of Male Identity, Thomas Keith
Here is a “Male Protagonist Bingo” card, highlighting the typical ‘masculine’ traits in male protagonists. A large amount of male characters in mainstream media have these traits. Using these stereotypes can be harmful. By representing only one type of male, these traits turn into ideals.