GENDER STEREOTYPES 

hey everyone! I am aakanshya and I like to be myself. I like wearing short pants and soccer jerseys. I preferred playing with guns and cars rather than dolls. I know it doesn't sound very girly. 

Gender stereotypes are one of those topics we don't explicitly talk about in our day-to-day interaction but it is a subject that we all knew existed. In fact, sometimes people judge and make opinions about others based on their gender stereotypes. It is a generalized view of traits that are ought to be possessed by both males and females. 

we all have grown up in a society where people tell us things like boys don't cry or you must sit with your legs crossed if you are a female.  I have always wondered why there are so many unspoken rules hanging about as I grew up. I have been told that because I am a girl, I must be neat in my handwriting, be quiet and demure. really, but why. 

From birth, it is very common to see parents dress their baby girl in pink and baby boy in blue. we are told that it is okay for girls to cry but boys who cry are considered emotional and weak. we are told that it is okay for boys to get scraped in the knees while playing but not okay for girls as girls are supposed to have clear and flawless skin. I am glad that my parents did not subscribe to such rules. Doing so we limit the child's potential who may be talented in an area that is deemed unsuitable for his or her gender. 

I believe that being given the freedom of who they are and who they want to be will allow each individual to be better. I feel that this topic should not just be a coffee shop talk but rather be a more concerted effort to question and stop gender stereotypes from being perpetuated.