GENDER stereotypes are generalisations about the roles of each sex, which are generally neither positive nor negative ("Recognise inherent dangers in gender stereotypes" by Ms Sherry Yeu; Forum Online, Tuesday). In fact, such stereotypes exist because they are fairly accurate generalisations of both male and female attributes.
Gender stereotyping begins from the time parents discover their baby's sex. Which parent would not buy pink clothing, dresses and dolls for a baby girl, or decorate her nursery using soft colours and female cartoon characters? Is it wrong to want our daughters to grow up as young girls who are supposed to wear dresses, and play with tea sets and teddy bears?
Contrary to popular belief, gender stereotypes do not claim to apply to all men or all women. Rather, there are certain internalised gender roles that are acceptable in our society. These help to define certain behavioural norms, which are neither wrong nor harmful in building healthy relationships between both sexes.
Madam Grace Chua Siew Hwee hit the nail on the head when she opined that it is not incorrect to claim that women are more emotional than men, who are in turn generally more direct than their female counterparts ("Far more damaging stereotypes"; Forum Online, Tuesday).
Our experience will tell us that these observations are true for the most part. It beggars belief that some consider accurate observations such as these to be inherently dangerous.
Males are also gender stereotyped by their parents from the time they are born. Which parent would not decorate a baby boy's nursery in shades of blue, or buy him shirts, jeans, toy cars, soldier figures and video games? Which boy is not taught from young to be tough and protective of his siblings?
It is far more worrying for parents not to believe in gender stereotyping and, as a consequence, encourage their sons to wear dresses, put ribbons in their hair and play with dolls.
It is far more critical for us to recognise the inherent differences between the sexes, and that gender stereotypes exist for a purpose, which is to define the roles of men and women in our culture and society, and not to define us as people.
Edmund Khoo Kim Hock
*Article first appeared on ST Forums (23 Oct 2014)