Now, we know you're probably saying, "But I'm not domestic (or any other word listed). I can barely cook a hotdog." Hey, we know what you mean, but when it comes to stereotypes, it's assumed that women are more domestic. And the numbers seem to support it. According to the U.S. Census Bureau from a report taken in May 2006, only 143,000 men are stay-at-home dads (compare that to 5.6 million stay-at-home moms).
So why do women do more domestic work? Is it because domestic work is inherent to being a woman or is it something deeper? Maybe more women stay at home to raise their children because it's assumed that women are better at that type of work. Maybe women put pressure on other women to be BETTER at domestic things. Maybe women feel like they SHOULD be better at raising children.
For example, check out the cover of any popular women's magazine. Not only will it tell you how to deal with your child's cold or get him or her into the best preschool, but it might also say something about learning how to please your man and get dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes. That's a lot to do.
But, let's get back to gender stereotyping. What happens when a man or a woman does not fulfill his or her gender stereotype? Well, if you're a guy, you might be called names like pussy, girly, wimp, fag, homo, or told you play/act/look like a girl.
And, if you're a girl, you might be called dyke, lesbo, butch, or tomboy.
Even worse, people who do not follow their "correct" gender stereotypes can also be physically assaulted, raped or even killed. Seems extreme, but think of the case involving Brandon Teena, the young transsexual who was born as a woman, but chose to live as a man. When his actual biological sex was discovered, two acquaintances raped and murdered him. Brandon's story was eventually turned into the film Boys Don't Cry.
