There’s no denying that gender norms, roles, and stereotypes have come an incredibly long way in the past century. But you may be surprised to learn just how much things have changed in the past ten years. Here are 17 ways gender norms have transformed in the last decade.
Evolving Gender Stereotypes
Unfortunately, gender stereotypes have taken far too long for society to shake. But you may be reassured to hear that a lot of progress has been made in this department in the past ten years. Nowadays, the presumption that women will be stay-at-home wives and must be the breadwinners has shifted significantly.
Chronic Bias Against Women in Leadership
For too many years, female leaders have been seen as weak, incompetent, and inferior. While women in positions of leadership still face significantly more scrutiny and unfair criticism than their male counterparts, we’re making strides toward eliminating this outdated perspective.
Changes in Global Fertility and Contraceptive Use
In many parts of the world, contraception has remained a taboo topic. In others, it’s difficult to access this essential resource. The past decade has seen an increase in contraceptive use all over the world, especially in Asia and Latin America.
The Rise of Gender Fluidity and Identity
In the last decade, we have become increasingly open-minded and accepting of various kinds of gender expression and identities. For example, there’s now less discrimination against transgender and genderfluid individuals, as well as more awareness of the damage of misgendering people.
Women’s Expanding Role in Politics
The feminists among us will be glad to hear that women’s representation in Congress has increased significantly in the past ten years. While we still have a way to go if we want to see a proportional representation of women in politics, it’s certainly a shift in the right direction.
Diverse Perspectives on Transgender and Gender Identity Issues
As the topic of transgender people and gender identity issues has come to the forefront, there has been an increase in discussion and debate on the topic. We’re now seeing a stark division in opinions on gender identity, with many right-leaning individuals completely condemning transgender surgery and leftists welcoming trans people with open arms.
Gender Inequalities in the Workplace Post-Pandemic
As noted by Phys.org, sadly, gender inequalities in the workplace have persisted into 2024. However, we’re seeing a shift in the right direction. The gender pay gap has continued to close, and we’re also seeing more awareness of the importance of issues such as paternity leave and support for gender equality.
Transformation in Education and Career Choices
Another important change we’ve witnessed in the last decade is the transformation in women’s education and career options. More and more women are opting to venture into traditionally male-dominated fields such as STEM.
Shift in Domestic Roles and Responsibilities
Gone are the days when we knew exactly what “being a good wife” and “being a good husband” meant to every couple. In 2024, more men are choosing to prioritize childcare and domestic responsibilities than ten years ago. Meanwhile, more women are pouring more resources into their careers than ever before.
The Influence of Social Media on Gender Perceptions
Whether you like it or not, it seems like the prevalence of social media in our society is here to stay. While this has had some detrimental effects on the body image of social media users, it has also allowed more people than ever to bring visibility to important issues such as changing gender stereotypes and movements like #MeToo.
Redefining Beauty and Body Image Standards
As noted by Stylist, throughout the 2010s and 2020s, we’ve seen a notable shift in our attitudes toward a diverse range of body types and shapes. Body-positive movements have gained more traction in the media, and influencers and celebrities have challenged our stereotypes around masculinity and femininity.
The Evolving Landscape of Legal Rights and Protections
In the last decade, there have been several key legal advancements in the protection of the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as progress in laws relating to discrimination and gender equality. For example, Stonewall states that several more countries have legalized gay marriage and become more accepting of trans people.
Changing Perceptions of Gender in Sports
In recent years, we’ve seen much more debate around the topic of gender in sports. Notably, there have been many discussions on the place of transgender individuals in sports and whether male-to-female transgender athletes should be allowed to compete against biological women.
The Role of Corporate Policies in Shaping Gender Norms
Here’s some more good news. The last decade has seen an increase in corporate initiatives that promote gender inclusivity and diversity. This has caused an overall positive shift in workplace culture that has made work environments more accepting and inclusive.
Gender Norms in Pop Culture and Entertainment
A few decades ago, many forms of entertainment promoted harmful and unrealistic gender stereotypes. Thankfully, in the past few years, we’ve seen more and more portrayals of diverse characters, strong female leads, and non-binary representation in all forms of media.
Expansion of Gender Discussions in Education
Our increased awareness of gender identity has also spilled over into our education systems as we become increasingly sensitive toward gender issues among our younger generation. As a result, educational institutions have begun to adopt more inclusive policies and teachings.
The Persistence of Violence Against Women
It’s a sad fact that women are continuing to face violence in many forms. However, many steps have been taken toward increasing global activism and legal measures against gender-based violence. There is also more and more recognition of domestic and other forms of violence against men and the importance of preventing it. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 88788 or the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
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