What are gender stereotypes?
A gender stereotype is a widely held belief or generalisation about the behaviours and characteristics attributed to women and men. Females are often portrayed as being emotional, caring and in need of protection. Males are often characterised as being rational, career driven and strong. These assumptions can be negative (e.g. women are irrational, men are insensitive) or seemingly benign (e.g. women are nurturing, men are leaders). However, all stereotyping can be limiting.