Gender Stereotyping and Inequality in US Culture

Running head: CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Cultural Anthropology

2CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Cultural diversity is one of the most important aspects that must be imbibed within all the
individuals working at all the different levels. In order to do this project, I had to make sure that I
am being able to put myself out of my comfort zone and make sure that I am being able to step
into the outside world. I thought that one of the best methods of studying the cultural differences
will be to study the matter right from the grassroots level. This is best possible if the matter is
seen from the childhood phase of all the individuals. The society makes sure that it is able to
implement its rules and regulations on the entire individual. However, it is a known fact that
there are some strict rules and bias nesses that is followed by the society and is also imposed on
individuals. For an instance, the gender-specific roles are one good example. It is a society that
has categorized the blue and then pink color to be suitable for the boys and the girls respectively.
I have taken part in this participant observation method as a part-time teacher in the daycare
centers. I thought that this will help me to realize the gender stereotyping that is actually taking
place in these sectors and how can they be solved.
I thought that the best place to research this topic will be the daycare centers. I have never
ever been part of any such organization. I thought that if I step into this organization it will be
very good for my assignment. I will be able to see how the daycare center teachers are trying to
categorize the male and the female students into various gender-specific roles and
responsibilities. The child care center is one of the good and unique places where the cultural
values, social values, government policies, and all other such aspects are seen within the child
day care centers. Often the girls are made to play with dolls, toy houses and other such girly
materials. On the other hand, the boys are asked to play with the so-called manly materials like
the cars, architectural objects, video games, and other such elements.

3CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
This is actually creating a very bad impact on the future of the children. I have seen that
the parents are also responsible for this gender stereotyping that is being done right from the
grassroots levels. The daycare authorities have to realize that this is not having a good or positive
impact on the future of the children as they grow up to be adult individuals.
I came to know that the teachers often ask the female students within the classroom and
carry on playing with the indoor gaming activities. On contrary, the male students can go out and
can pay in the open. There is no one who would ask the male students to stay in the classes. I
realized that the preschool teachers are actually promoting a sexist or a gender-specific
atmosphere within the classroom environment. Often during some functions, the girls are asked
to dress like the Disney princess, fairies, Cinderella's and another such princess like dresses. On
the other hand, the boys can dress like any heroes or they can even come in some normal casual
attires that will enable them to go out in the open and pay. Therefore, in this way it can be said
that the boys are becoming doers and the girls are becoming observers. Thus, I felt that this is
making the girls very inactive and the most concerning fact are that they are actually accepting
and abiding by it. They do not protect against it as there is no one who can show them the wrong
behind the same.
Making use of the participant observation method has been very useful as I have been
able to take part in all the activities that are taking place in the daycare centers. I have seen that
there is still a huge amount of gender stereotyping that is present within the US culture. There is
still a notion that the boys are much string than the female. It is, for this reason, the girls must
always know their limits. A very common line that I have heard the teachers saying is boys don’t