Question

What is the demerit of the ‘stereotype’ view?

Answer 1

Hint: Stereotype is a rigid and over-generalized belief about a particular category. For example: In some communities, boys are always dressed in blue and not in pink as it is considered to be a ‘feminine’ color.

Complete step by step answer:
The notion of stereotype is generally negative. It creates discrimination that results in inequality. It hampers the individual thought. The main demerit of stereotype view is gender inequality, for example at work she has to perform her duties equivalent to her male counterpart. Once back home in the evening, she has to complete the household chores and then manages to catch a few hours of sleep before following the same routine the next day. The work she does at home is unaccountable. It is not considered productive. The woman’s role as a caregiver and homemaker has not been accorded its rightful place.
Some stereotype view is
Males are tough and females are the weaker sex, originate from roles that are taught during childhood.
Males are told ‘boys do not cry’ and are given guns and cars as toys and girls are given dolls and playhouses, so they can play the traditional female homemaking role.
The gist of the matter is that girls are schooled to be soft and obedient, and boys are told to be tough and dominating.
This stereotype view wrongly ingrains the specific roles that girls and boys are supposed to play when they frown up into women and men. This results in gender equality.

Note: The issue of women’s inequality is not limited to India alone; it is an international one. A well laid out planning is required on an international level for gender equality because even the most developed countries have been unsuccessful in ensuring a rightful place for women in society.