Growing up, we were taught that there were certain things only boys could do and certain things only girls could do. Things like the colors children wear, the toys they play with, and even the clothes they wear are stereotypical. Gender stereotypes affect both men and women, some similarly, others very differently. Many people don't know what a gender stereotype is, how what we say about gender in Western culture differs from what is actually true, which stereotypes are scientifically proven to be real, or how some Native American tribes accepted tribal members who were different from them. their biological gender. Male-defined behavior, things like physical strength, control over emotions, and being a good provider, differs quite a bit from female-defined behavior, such as dependency, emotional expression, and maternal and nurturing instincts ( Kazdin 430 ). Things like the type of toys you play with as a child and the type of clothes you wear can turn into a gender stereotype. Toys for boys are very different from toys for girls. For boys, toys are dark in color and have a sort of “tool of terror” function, but for girls they are fizzy and often have storage as an underlying function (Turgeon). For girls, playing GI Joe and Hot Wheels is not considered "normal" and you will be labeled as a tomboy or even a lesbian. For boys, playing with Easy-Bake Ovens or Barbie dolls is not considered the social norm and can lead to gender stereotypes such as being homosexual. Furthermore, parents usually raise male and female children differently. Girls and boys are taught to be completely different when it comes to emotions, dependency, and competitiveness, and are often given… middle of the paper…4. Network. April 24, 2014.H., Susan. “6 Absurd Gender Stereotypes (That Science Says Are True).” Cracked.com. May 10, 2010. Web. May 16, 2014. .Kazdin, Alan E. Encyclopedia of Psychology. vol. 3. Washington, DC.: American Psychological Association, 2000. 430-41. Print.Magenya, Sheena. "Who's in the News? Results of the 2010 Global Media Monitoring Project." Sister Namibia 22.1 (2010): 24. Global issues in context. Network. April 10, 2014. Turgeon, Wendy C. “The Persistence of Gender Stereotypes in the 21st Century and What We Can Do About It.” viterbo.edu. Network. 25 April 2014. "Why the genre". Type. Network. April 25. 2014. .