How are women viewed in society? That question has a lot to unpack.
The expectations placed on women by society have evolved across generations. Whether you belong to the Baby Boomer, Gen X, or Gen Z cohort, societal norms have always dictated how women should look and behave. Women are expected to meet certain appearance standards, which can lead to labeling and judgment if they don’t. There’s pressure to maintain a specific body type; deviations from this ideal can result in negative labels or criticism. These damaging beauty ideals often lead many women to strive for unattainable perfection. This perfectionism can prevent women from trying new things and embracing their true selves.
Regarding behavior, women often face challenges in being heard and taken seriously. Speaking up about important issues can lead to dismissal or being labeled as dramatic while remaining silent can result in being overlooked. Despite women’s progress in gaining influence and power, societal expectations often overshadow their true potential. Women are expected to fulfill multiple roles, such as wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, and nieces while facing unrealistic and unfair expectations. But society also tends to forget that we are also engineers, teachers, doctors, surgeons, and students. And just because we are expected to fill those domestic roles doesn’t mean we have to.
In contrast, society’s view of men has remained largely unchanged for generations, with men traditionally seen as protectors and providers. This raises the question of why women can’t be viewed in a similar light. Women continue to face gender inequality, discrimination, and harassment, as well as the gender pay gap. This is especially burdensome during their teenage years when girls face peer pressure from guys, issues around body image, and academic stress. While gender roles have evolved, much of what women faced in the past continues to impact present-day standards for women.
One area of society that has continued to contribute to this is popular media, such as TV shows and movies, which often perpetuate stereotypes that can impact young girls’ perceptions of themselves and their potential. While some of the stories from these sources may be fairytales, they still influence how girls perceive their roles and aspirations. Jang Yewon’s article “What Kind of Barbie Are You: Stereotypical or Active?” looks at the 2023 film and connects it to modern stereotypes that young women face as well as the pressure they feel to conform to certain gender roles. Yewon writes, “Many compliments that Barbie gets include the word ‘pretty’ rather than ‘smart’ or ‘charismatic.’” This article shows that women and young girls aren’t just pretty or should get compliments on their hair or outfit choices. Women should be celebrated and congratulated on our intelligence and our reliance on our bravery. And I think society fails to realize that women are more than just appearances.
“What does it mean to be a woman? Being a woman comes with a lot of responsibilities, opinions, and doubts, but it also comes with growth and courage. We provide care and nurturing, and we also provide leadership and bravery. The most important thing is that we still have room to grow as a society and as people. I believe that this generation and its views on women will adjust as we get older, and maybe things will change.”
