Stereotypes specifically that of gender does start from birth

Stereotypes specifically that of gender truly do start from birth. We are given certain ideas right away of how a girl or boy should act. We are also taught what a girl should or should not do but yet the same notion a boy is allowed to do so. As a girl we grow up learning about princesses, princes and how their stories come together to result into a fairy tale ending. Personally, I was one of those little girls that was in awe of the idea of being a princess, marrying a prince and living happily ever after. It is a magical way to think and see the world around us especially when you are so young. The “fairy tale” idea shields us from the not so pretty occurrences that happen all around the world. In my opinion, this idea is not out of reach or completely bad necessarily. However, there are specific parts of the idea that truly can influence the way children think specifically girls. 

We all have heard and even seen the notion depicted in movies and tv shows how girls should meet their prince charming quite early in life. This sets a bad precedent for the girls who grew up watching these films and now feel almost lonely for not having met their prince charming yet. You feel almost obligated to want your life to be the way it is in the fairytale movies. It is much easier to watch a film and only see the positives of it than to truly study it and notice how horribly bad the princess most always is treated by the prince. Sadly, I had noticed as I got older that most films or even tv shows are okay with putting the detail of letting a man insult a woman as if it is okay. In reality, we should be teaching girls from such a young age that you should not be treated differently just because of your gender nor should a guy be acting a specific way because of his gender. We should all treat one another with kindness and not rely on stereotypes to determine how we act or think. 

We have also thoroughly watched the ever so popular theme in animated Disney movies specifically that make it seem like women need to always be saved by a man yet they are not able to be saved by their own family, friends or even themself. Thankfully, these trends are starting to become less of a norm. However, when I was a little girl (early 2000’s) it was very much almost always the main subject of any animated children's movies or tv shows. It was quite typical to watch a Disney movie where the princess is either trapped in a castle and needs saving by a prince or has some kind of dilemma where she needs help from a man when in reality she could have found help from a friend or even family member. I do believe that if the stereotype of a woman needing to be saved by a man was not as prevalent in young children's films that the idea of loving yourself first fully before meeting the one would be not as difficult to follow. We need more films especially for children that revolve less around what a girl can not do but instead what she can do which is whatever she sets her mind to be. Barbie movies have always been really good with following this idea and lately has expanded their reach to include several different careers that many more women lately have been able to be a part of that they never could before. 

Written by Kira Taylor - Ambassador of Empower Girls