Which gender stereotypes do you hate the most?

Scout · 11-02-2006, 07:55 PM

Hey, fellow eNoters...well, I just saw an ad for a book title that had BOTH my least favorite stereotypes in them. The book is Why Men Don't Have a Clue and Women Always Need More Shoes: The Ultimate Guide to the Opposite Sex

I resent the implication that women are shoe-shopping bubbleheads, and that men are dense lunkheads!

Down with gender stereotypes! All they do is fuel the fire of the endless (and completely pointless) "Battle of the Sexes," and make money for charlatan so-called "experts" who make a buck off perpetuating 'em.

So...which gender stereotypes do YOU hate the most?

rose2summer · 11-02-2006, 08:01 PM

For women
I absolutely cannot stand the notion that some hold that women are meant to stay at home and care for children and don't know how to fix things on their own.

For men
I cannot accept how men are supposed to be the breadwinners, court a women, protect, that's so old school and needs to be tossed out.

In my opinion, everyone is equal and there shouldn't be supposed roles, too bad not everyone believes that, but hopefully someday they will.

Batya33 · 11-02-2006, 08:06 PM

That women who have careers are called "career women" with all the attendant stereotypes but you never hear about "career men"

That women lawyers are "aggressive"

That men who are short are "nerdy" or presumably less attractive or sexy than taller men.

That women love to shop.

Anna. · 11-02-2006, 08:09 PM

I hate the emotional stereotype placed on women. I hate the terms "chick flicks" and "chick lit," b/c it's cutting off half their audiences and tries to make guys feel lame for watching/reading them.

And most of all, I hate the dreaded stereotype of a woman who has had multiple sexual partner- you know what choice words I'm talking about that I can't say...
And the freakin double standard stereotype of the guy who's had multiple sex partners as a playa or a stud or whatever the heck they call them.

DN · 11-02-2006, 08:11 PM

I dislike all of them equally.

Scout · 11-02-2006, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna1216

I hate the terms "chick flicks" and "chick lit,"

Ugh, so do I! They also have a male version of this now, too..."Lad mags" and "Lad Lit." It's truly annoying how the media rushes to slap a label on everything so they can market a product to their own created "demographic."

Slagar · 11-02-2006, 08:21 PM

Stereotypes are awful. I think it's easy to be guilty of them from time to time without meaning to. I'm not sure which ones annoy me the most in particular though. I think people should be allowed to be interested in whatever they want, regardless of gender. Why shouldn't a man be allowed to cook and clean? Why shouldn't a woman be allowed to be interested in cars? They're all pretty much out-dated and silly to me I think.

I do remember in particular, many moons ago, my sewing teacher was pretty sexist, and all but completely ignored the guys in the class. I quite enjoyed making frilly patterns on my plastic-bag holder, lol. Plus the technical aspect of getting the darn sewing machine working right was kind of interesting too, haha

Hah! Scout, I was browsing Borders yesterday, and I saw that book sitting on the shelf! I thought it looked pretty bad

I'm glad steered clear of it.
Instead I found a copy of Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom. My friend recommended it to me a while ago, but I haven't been able to find a copy until yesterday. I have only had enough time to read the first two chapters, but it seems really good so far.

Err, sorry for the OT

**caro33** · 11-02-2006, 08:21 PM

Woman with intelligence/ambition is threatening and should be apologetic: This might be a bit of a stretch but it's a vibe that's out there. I hate that a woman with opinions has to be super careful not to be pigeonholed as aggressive or domineering, yet in certain (many?) workplaces a woman need to be louder/more tenacious to even be heard. Difficult line to tread. But I am not stereotyping men as all feeling threatened, there are many men who are accepting of it. Actually I find other women more of a problem with this, like as a smart woman with a career I might be lacking some fundamental 'woman' chromosome. I guess this is mostly from women and men who have bought into the other stereotypes noted above re breadwinners and ambition.

Men with emotions are lame: This limits men so much. No men don't seem to bond/communicate like women do but that doesn't mean they don't have a need to communicate and express confusion/upset at all. But I think men do this to themselves just as badly as women do.

Agree with Batya's statement re career women.

REALLY hate the shoe thing with women. Unfortunately most of my friends help perpetuate this stereotype.

**caro33** · 11-02-2006, 08:30 PM

Actually as a recent bride I have another one:

"the wedding is the best day of a woman's life"

Such an industry about how you look when you're a bride, and none of it's about the marriage itself, it's all about distracting yourself from the marriage it would seem. Really really confronting. Yeah, it was a lovely day, but c'mon...

Scout · 11-02-2006, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slagar

Hah! Scout, I was browsing Borders yesterday, and I saw that book sitting on the shelf! I thought it looked pretty bad

I'm glad steered clear of it.
Instead I found a copy of Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom. My friend recommended it to me a while ago, but I haven't been able to find a copy until yesterday. I have only had enough time to read the first two chapters, but it seems really good so far.

Err, sorry for the OT

No apologies necessary, friend...glad you could join the rant!

11-02-2006, 07:55 PM	#1
Scout Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Colorado Gender: Female Age: 40 Posts: 7,288	Which gender stereotypes do you hate the most? Hey, fellow eNoters...well, I just saw an ad for a book title that had BOTH my least favorite stereotypes in them. The book is Why Men Don't Have a Clue and Women Always Need More Shoes: The Ultimate Guide to the Opposite Sex I resent the implication that women are shoe-shopping bubbleheads, and that men are dense lunkheads! Down with gender stereotypes! All they do is fuel the fire of the endless (and completely pointless) "Battle of the Sexes," and make money for charlatan so-called "experts" who make a buck off perpetuating 'em. So...which gender stereotypes do YOU hate the most? __________________ If your dog is fat, you're not getting enough exercise. * * * One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today. - Dale Carnegie * * * Bob Ross rules! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOpF_ZGD4Ps Last edited by Scout; 11-02-2006 at 08:19 PM.

11-02-2006, 08:01 PM	#2
rose2summer Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 2,382	For women I absolutely cannot stand the notion that some hold that women are meant to stay at home and care for children and don't know how to fix things on their own. For men I cannot accept how men are supposed to be the breadwinners, court a women, protect, that's so old school and needs to be tossed out. In my opinion, everyone is equal and there shouldn't be supposed roles, too bad not everyone believes that, but hopefully someday they will. __________________ If life is fulfilled we go away with empty hands. ~Chinese Proverb~ With every failure, there's a chance for success. With every failure, there's a chance to learn. ~Rose~

11-02-2006, 08:09 PM	#4
Anna. Offline Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: the South US Gender: Female Age: 24 Posts: 836	I hate the emotional stereotype placed on women. I hate the terms "chick flicks" and "chick lit," b/c it's cutting off half their audiences and tries to make guys feel lame for watching/reading them. And most of all, I hate the dreaded stereotype of a woman who has had multiple sexual partner- you know what choice words I'm talking about that I can't say... And the freakin double standard stereotype of the guy who's had multiple sex partners as a playa or a stud or whatever the heck they call them. __________________ I opened my eyes And looked up at the rain And it dripped in my head And flowed in my brain, And all that I hear as I lie in my bed Is the slisity-slosh of the rain in my head. -Shel Silverstein

11-02-2006, 08:11 PM	#5
DN Offline Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Gender: Male Posts: 23,439	I dislike all of them equally. __________________ Immaturity is not defined by him not doing what you want him to do. Hartman's Law of Prescriptivist Retaliation: "any article or statement about correct grammar, punctuation, or spelling is bound to contain at least one eror".

11-02-2006, 08:21 PM	#7
Slagar Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New Zealand Gender: Male Age: 24 Posts: 296	Stereotypes are awful. I think it's easy to be guilty of them from time to time without meaning to. I'm not sure which ones annoy me the most in particular though. I think people should be allowed to be interested in whatever they want, regardless of gender. Why shouldn't a man be allowed to cook and clean? Why shouldn't a woman be allowed to be interested in cars? They're all pretty much out-dated and silly to me I think. I do remember in particular, many moons ago, my sewing teacher was pretty sexist, and all but completely ignored the guys in the class. I quite enjoyed making frilly patterns on my plastic-bag holder, lol. Plus the technical aspect of getting the darn sewing machine working right was kind of interesting too, haha Hah! Scout, I was browsing Borders yesterday, and I saw that book sitting on the shelf! I thought it looked pretty bad I'm glad steered clear of it. Instead I found a copy of Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom. My friend recommended it to me a while ago, but I haven't been able to find a copy until yesterday. I have only had enough time to read the first two chapters, but it seems really good so far. Err, sorry for the OT __________________ "Let's hold out for somethin' sweeter, Spread your wings and fly" - Ed Kowalczyk, Live [The Distance] "Some people change, others hang on till they can't anymore" - Paul Durham, Black Lab [Gates Of The Country]

11-02-2006, 08:06 PM	#3
Batya33 Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 19,064	That women who have careers are called "career women" with all the attendant stereotypes but you never hear about "career men" That women lawyers are "aggressive" That men who are short are "nerdy" or presumably less attractive or sexy than taller men. That women love to shop.

11-02-2006, 08:21 PM	#8
caro33 Online Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,569	Woman with intelligence/ambition is threatening and should be apologetic: This might be a bit of a stretch but it's a vibe that's out there. I hate that a woman with opinions has to be super careful not to be pigeonholed as aggressive or domineering, yet in certain (many?) workplaces a woman need to be louder/more tenacious to even be heard. Difficult line to tread. But I am not stereotyping men as all feeling threatened, there are many men who are accepting of it. Actually I find other women more of a problem with this, like as a smart woman with a career I might be lacking some fundamental 'woman' chromosome. I guess this is mostly from women and men who have bought into the other stereotypes noted above re breadwinners and ambition. Men with emotions are lame: This limits men so much. No men don't seem to bond/communicate like women do but that doesn't mean they don't have a need to communicate and express confusion/upset at all. But I think men do this to themselves just as badly as women do. Agree with Batya's statement re career women. REALLY hate the shoe thing with women. Unfortunately most of my friends help perpetuate this stereotype.

11-02-2006, 08:30 PM	#9
caro33 Online Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,569	Actually as a recent bride I have another one: "the wedding is the best day of a woman's life" Such an industry about how you look when you're a bride, and none of it's about the marriage itself, it's all about distracting yourself from the marriage it would seem. Really really confronting. Yeah, it was a lovely day, but c'mon...