Do you find the stereotypes on gender roles amusing or do they bore you silly?
I will show you a clip I found on youtube that deals with the various male/female stereotypes accepted in society.
What I found interesting about this video is that it inspired a few comments that struck me as important reactions to stereotyping male and female behaviour.
The first commenter yawns:-
gitti412 (3 weeks ago)
boooooooooring. always the same boring stereotypes. i have ovaries, i have to love shopping.
I can perfectly understand that reaction. There is one part in the clip which suggests a woman coming home would start doing the housework. Honestly, I do housework when I have to. I would very rarely come home and start hoovering and ironing.
I am the least domesticated woman you will ever find. It might be something to do with being an ex-university student, though! 
Either way, housework? Blergh. TV and a pizza? Bring it on!
Another commenter chuckles:-
noreaction32 (2 months ago)
good, this is how gender roles should be, just make fun of it instead of being a feminist or a chauvinist about it because in real life, men and women are made to exist in harmony
This comment is interesting because it points to another function of stereotypes, and that is humour.
There is a part of me that thinks stereotypes of men and women are exasperating. There is yet another part of me that views stereotyping as a means of laughing at ourselves and each other.
So what were your reactions to this video?
Are you yawning or laughing?
12 Comments
January 7, 2008 at 10:32 pm
I want 5 minutes of life back!
I guess that qualifies as a yawn.
January 8, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Yep. Stereotypes: generalized misperceptions about just about anyone else who is different and not just about gender. Gay men are fabulous decorators? Black folks are lazy but have rhythm? Rural residents are ignorant racists? Obese people are jolly? Unmarried people are unhappy people? Ummm…what was the question again?
Stereotypes should serve as negative examples of the thinking we need to overcome in order to begin perceiving others as human beings – not as stereotypes slotted into perceptual boxes.
January 11, 2008 at 6:16 pm
“Stereotypes should serve as negative examples of the thinking we need to overcome in order to begin perceiving others as human beings – not as stereotypes slotted into perceptual boxes.”
Jami, you have a wonderful way with words (I have said this before, but I’ll say it again), you hit the nail on the head once more. I might have to quote you!
January 12, 2008 at 7:03 am
I laughed and I cried. I guess that means I’m a mix-up? Or is just that I see both sides? All sides?
Chucking off the programming is hard. I think it all comes down to intent – when the stereotyping is malicious, it’s harmful, when it’s not it’s funny. So it’s all in the intent and then the delivery, and (wo-)man, you better not screw up the delivery!
These Italians didn’t, I bet they’re having a fun time in the romantico department this year…(sigh)…as always…I need my Italian blood transfusion yesterday!
Happy New Year everybody.
January 14, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Quote away, hon’!
January 16, 2008 at 5:25 am
May I also quote, Jami? You have articulated that particular bit exceptionally well.
Warning: may be used in prominent national and international but nonetheless underfunded campaigns for social change!
January 16, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Quoting is happily allowed … as long as attribution is made to one of the greatest and most enlightened minds to ever grace the planet with her wisdom.
OK, that last part isn’t really necessary, unless you feel that it’s true.
January 16, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Wait, wait – I’ve got another one: “Any time you slap another label on the outside, you hide some more of what’s really inside.”
January 17, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I know this is a derail, but there’s an article currently circulating at the moment I belive would make for an interesting debate. The title of it is called “The Coming American Matriarchy”. If you google it, you’ll likely come across several sites that are displaying this work.
January 25, 2008 at 6:19 pm
@Sam – Cheers for the shout out on “The Coming American Matriarchy” – I will give it a look over and if I can grab a spare moment, write my impressions on it.
@Jami – I will quote you in the near future – watch this space
…. oh wait, you are!! I should also say that you do, in fact, have a wonderful way with words. I am soooo jealous! 
@NDK – You laughed AND cried? There is a fine line between laughter and tears mind – were you crying because you were laughing; or laughing because you were crying. (Believe it or not, there is a difference in my book
)
February 29, 2008 at 1:59 am
[...] blog) has a terrific way with words. She wrote the following in reply to an earlier post called Stereotypes: Are you yawning or laughing? “Stereotypes should serve as negative examples of the thinking we need to overcome in order to [...]
February 15, 2009 at 5:09 am
First off…this site is awesome. I hate radical feminazism.
Second, stereotypes are stereotypes are stereotypes. Why are people getting so angry? Use humour or do something to change them.
Asians winning ABDC has created a new stereotype. Stereotyping is in our nature.