Stereotypes can be defined as an overstated belief about an individual or a group based on their appearance, behavior or beliefs. Though our world seems to be developing in many other ways, it seems almost impossible to liberate it from stereotypes. Today, the media is so powerful that it can make or break an image of a person and also can change the views of the audience. The majority of people conform to those roles very early on, but sometimes the line blurs between femininity and masculinity. The media contributes to the blurring of the lines between the two.
The media likes to show men who are strong, athletic, and independent. There are commercials for men that are rather neutral in emotion, or with fast-paced action. However, there are ads that show women being athletic and independent. Most of what the media says about women is that they are nice, pretty, delicate, and they wear their emotions on their sleeves.
As one grows older, both sexes endure an incredible amount of pressure from the media to fit into their gender roles. If men show any feminine traits they are considered weak and are often not taken seriously. On the other hand, society views women with masculine qualities as hard-nosed or strong. Society is more lenient on women for not conforming to gender roles than they are for men. For example, society is less tolerant of men with feminine qualities than women who have masculine qualities.
It is common to see a commercial for a household cleaner which involves a women swooping in to save the day with a spray of carpet cleaner, while her clumsy husband looks completely baffled about the process of cleaning spilled grape juice. Stereotypical commercials contribute to the standard ideal that a woman’s purpose is to fulfill duties that surround the home while a man does not associate with basic household chores, which is not always the case. It is