Disrupting Stereotypes — Tweet Chat Recap
Hi! Thanks for stopping by.
I was in conversation with Chiamaka on June 30, 2022, alongside Damilola, to discuss stereotypes, and here is a recap of our #TweetChat for the #RippleProject.
What does ‘stereotype’ mean?
A stereotype is a characteristic/role people associate with and is enforced on a particular person or group of people on the basis of their self-expression, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, race, (a)religious or (a)political views.
Stereotypes are narrow and reductive ways of defining people; they impact our interactions with and reactions to those whom we stereotype.
Stereotypes can be harmful to the people/group we attribute them to, causing them to suffer discrimination, inequality, or violence for being grossly misunderstood or underestimated. In cases where they seem positive, stereotypes may have an underlying unhealthy effect.
Examples and effects of gender stereotypes
Men who are not aggressive are unmanly/feminine/weak,” this is a harmful stereotype. Another example is the belief that a woman is her husband’s property, therefore there is no such thing as marital rape.
What role does gender stereotype play in gender inequality?
Stereotypes inform social norms, and this in turn perpetuates gender inequality in structures and systems that humans depend on for continued existence and optimal living. An example is the gendered disparity in literacy rate in Nigeria; in 2018, 60% of out of school children were girls.
Another instance is how political and leadership positions are male-dominated, stemming from the stereotype that men are “born leaders”, while women are their appendages.
Ripple effect of the stereotype that tech and engineering are “manly” fields: 25% of Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft’s employees are female and only 37% of tech start-ups have at least one woman on the board of directors.
The ratio of men to women in engineering is 5:1; 80% are male, while only 20% are female. This underrepresentation further contributes to unemployment rate among women, and online violence and digital harassment that they experience.
How to curb gender stereotypes and sensitize the society on their effects
I. Parents, guardians, and teachers should be conscious of the ways gender stereotypes impact how they raise, teach, and nurture children.
II. Religious institutions, the educational system, and social media can be leveraged to sensitize people on the effect of stereotypes.
III. Government structures, organizations and all workplaces should conduct regular review of their staff (to check for DEI), salary structure and policies to eliminate gender bias borne off gender stereotypes, as one reinforces the other.
How do (gender) stereotypes impact you? Feel free to share your experiences with me.
