Gender norms

Ideas around ‘femininity’ and ‘masculinity’ are socially and culturally determined and are constantly evolving. Expectations about what it means to be a boy or girl transcend gender differences between the two. Biological differences translate through the gender concept into social inequality. (In)visible roles and norms cause one group to be pushed into a subordinate position compared to another group. Personality traits, behavior, studies, occupations, clothing, toys… are ordered as male or female. In addition, these are assigned a value based on this ordering. In Western cultures, masculinity is still valued differently from femininity. This valuation creeps unconsciously into our language, habits, customs and even regulations. By adding a value judgement to this biological dichotomy, gender creates a pattern of power between the biological sexes.

Talk about your own experiences.
- What does femininity mean? What does masculinity mean?
- What social valuation belongs to femininity? To masculinity?
- Are behaviors and attitudes as a woman aligned with this valuation?
- What expectation does one feel as a woman regarding interests? Clothing? Toys?
- Choice of study? Are these expectations the same for men?