Gender stereotypes persist among young Canadians

Rosemary McCarney, president and CEO of Plan Canada, and Maneesa Sotheeswaran, a 'Because I Am a Girl' advocate say for the past few years the focus has been on girls, but now the organization is trying to engage boys, as they believe they are part of the solution.

Watch: See all Videos in the Player

A A | Email This Email | Print | Comments (49) Tweet

Thirty-one per cent of the Canadian boys said they believe a woman's most important role is to take care of her home and cook for the family.

View Larger Image

More on this topic

Plan Canada - Because I am a Girl: The State of the World's Girls 2011

CTVNews.ca Staff

Date: Thu. Sep. 22 2011 12:50 PM ET

A new report finds some young Canadians still have stereotypical views about the roles of men and women.

International development agency Plan Canada commissioned surveys of the viewpoints of thousands of youth from around the world, including 1,000 Canadian youth between the ages of 12 and 17.

They found that while 91 per cent felt that equality between men and women in Canada is good for both boys and girls, some youth still subscribed to gender stereotypes. For example:

48 per cent of the youth thought men should be responsible for earning income and providing for the family
31 per cent of the boys felt that a woman's most important role is to take care of her home and cook for the family.

In the U.K. meanwhile, only 15 per cent of young boys that a woman's most important role is to take care of her home and cook for the family.

Canadian adults seemed to share similar views about gender role as their younger counterparts:

43 per cent of the adult respondents said men should be responsible for earning income and providing for the family
24 per cent believe a woman's most important role is taking care of her home and cooking.

Rosemary McCarney, the president and CEO of Plan Canada, says she was surprised to see that gender stereotypes still persist, even in young Canadians.

"We were shocked. While Canadian boys said yes, they believe in gender equality etc. in large numbers, when you kind of dug down a little deeper, they still conform to very traditional stereotype roles," she told CTV's Canada AM.

The survey also found that a full 45 per cent of Canadian youth agree that "to be a man you need to be tough," compared to just 13 per cent of youth in the U.K. In Rwanda, only 26 per cent of youth think men need to be tough.

"Over half of Canadian boys were saying that to be a man means taking more risks. These are harmful behaviours and harmful thoughts of boys. And it ends up leading to high-risk behaviour for boys," said McCarney.

"It's not working. We need boys and girls, men and women, parents and educators to really work on the issue of these traditional roles, because it puts us a lot of pressure on boys and it holds back girls from reaching their full potential."

The survey also found 66 per cent of youth felt pressure from peers and friends to conform to traditional roles. Nearly half said the pressure came from media, while one-third think it came from family.

The new survey is part of Plan International's latest report on the state of the world's girls. This year's report focuses on how boys and men can be part of the global solutions to gender inequality.

The report notes that poverty places a heavy burden on many fathers, husbands and sons, because in most societies as heads of the household men are expected to be the principal providers in their families.

But research shows that when men treat their wives as equal partners, are active parents, and take an interest in their children's work, both boys and girls benefit.

"Boys are part of the solution and we need to engage them because frankly, all our research is showing that gender inequality doesn't work for them either," says McCarney.

Comments are now closed for this story

Mother of three boys to men.
said
0 0

I completely agree with the comment about the amount of abuse and derision directed at boys and men in our society. I am raising my two boys to have respect for themselves first and foremost so they will make best choices for their mates and so they won't be manipulated by some scheming females to have sex before they're ready, getting pregnant to force him to stay or marry them and to chose women who are self-respecting. I witness neighbourhood girls as young as 8 and 9 years old dressed and behaving like 25 year olds and offering sexual services to boys of the same age. If a boy of 9 were to be behaving in such a manner, he'd be labelled a sex offender and thrown in jail.

Jaid in Toronto
said
0 0

I think 12-17 is way too early, most of those books are too outdated. Start with mid 20s to early 30s, you might find an interesting result there.

KC
said
0 0

"Holds girls from reaching their full potential" - how propagandists is this statement? Are you insuating that because a girl wants to put her household first and work and give herself over to the raising of her children that she is not reaching her 'full potential?' Such a statement has just relegated many many women I know who have reached their full potential in being wives and mothers. Way to go in demeaning them by relegating them to "tradition" and not exemplifying an honourable labour.

Ryan, Guelph
said
0 0

Sounds like much ado about nothing. Stereotypes will always exist at some level. The human brain is programmed that way, and people kicking up a fuss isn't going to change millenia of evolution. What they should be celebrating is that these stereotypes now exist in the MINORITY of people. I'd be more interested in the change in score from decades past to see how much progress we have made already. Frankly I'm impressed to see only 24-31 per cent have such a terribly stereotype of women.

Cambob in Toronto
said
0 0

This article needs to go boldly forward. It's time for little girls to have full equality. No more of this boys hockey and girls hockey. It's time to put them all in the same game!

Lynn
said
0 0

If the question was truly about what is one's most IMPORTANT role, then it had better be parenting!! ... which includes preparing meals and managing a home. True for both genders. "Most important role" can be different from "most time-consuming role" (usually the role that pays the bills), but one does have to give a wholehearted effort and commitment of time and focus to be successful in their most important role as a parent too.

E.
said
0 0

This attitude by Plan Canada borders on obscene. It's has become painfully obvious that everything is about empowering girls while boys are treated as a "the problem". This is great for beating the self confidence and self worth of boys and young men into oblivion.I for one will not play along, my two boys are rambunctious, play hard and are full of testosterone. My wife and I will celebrate that fact and let them be boys!

disgusted male
said
0 0

I will never donate to plan, as I have a few a charities I contribute too. These charities genuinely want to help people throughout the world and not create new problems, concerns. There are alot of charities that have a better overhead (where more money goes to the programs) than Plan. And their overall view points is "Helping the less fortunate" rather than plans approach of demoralizing 1/2 (men/boys) of the worlds population to promote the other 1/2 (women/girls). I suggest and recommend to look deeper at this charity and do not contribute to one that eliminates help to 1/2 of the worlds population. Apparently it is a very sexist organization. The other day, I was approached off the subway but three plan international reps about this campaign and issue. They proceeded to tell me that men didn't deserve the help as they are the ones who have created the issues and stereotypes. Afterall, the stats show this to be true... I was disgusted. For a charity organization to show complete disrespect and false accusations of men, women and people in general. I will never look at Plan internation to donate.

JB in Ontario
said
0 0

In my generation (I'm 42), the role of families were clearly defined. Dad worked and mom stayed and home and was a homemaker. It was plain and simple and a great way to live and grow up as a child and as a teenager. Now it takes two incomes (mostly) to raise a family these days. Now we have latch key kids. I don't like the way it is nowadays. Too hurried. Something will happen to slow the world down.

Joe, Onatrio
said
0 0

Bring on Positive discrimination in the work place, Lets hire on sex and not skill sets.

Terry S.
said
0 0

I find many of the comments here sad and lowly. Many years before my wife and I had a child we decided the MOST important thing was to have a parent HOME with the child until they are school age at least. My wife makes more money than I can therefore I put my job on hold to raise our daughter. It's that simple. ones gender does NOT make them a good parent, many men just like to take the easy route and have a nice relaxing day at work then complain when the dishes are not done upon their arrival home. There ARE differences between the sexes but pining for a past age is ridiculous. What REALLY matters is that a child gets raised by their parents and not a stranger not the sex of the primary care giver.

Jimmy, Alberta
said
0 0

CB, id sware we were related because i had the exact same experience with my mom. I cant strress enough how improtatnt it si for (both) parents to be finaincially indepenednt in the case where one for some reason leaves.....

Maria Fleming
said
0 0

It seems to me that in order to end gender stereotyping, some people are trying to do the complete opposite. For example, boy with pink hat and pink shoes(in the picture above). Aren't you creating a different stereotype by doing so, isn't it better to just let these kids choose whatever they prefer. Sure media influences some of our characteristics, but history and science has shown us that gender differences are not just stereotypes. They are natural, we have commonalities for partaining in different genders, in the same way we have commonalities from belonging to the same nation, or ethnicity, or country. As long as we create a place where all sexualities have the same freedoms and rights, who cares if women like to cook, and like to wear pink? It doesn't mean all women have to cook... they just prefer to do so. Just as men like to chase balls around fields.

Mark J.
said
0 0

I got a letter from California Fitness (co-ed at the time) advising me that they were converting the location I was attemding to a ladies only. After 12 years, I was no longer welcome because I was male. It went ahead, all the men had to leave, and there was no opposition from the women to stop it from happening.

Mel Blake
said
0 0

Why is this entire article focused on what is wrong and needs to be fixed with boys? There is always a bias towards to idea that there is something wrong with males that needs to be addressed. Were there no "troubling" results from the females? And who gets to decided what the ideal case for the acceptable attitudes will be? This article clearly shows the feminist-left viewpoint that where there is a problem it is the males that are wrong. It also might occur to someone that maybe the boys knew what the "correct" answer was and wrote in the wrong one just to tick people off. I would if I were the same age.

montrose
said
0 0

I am going to check to see if this is a charity to which my wife and I contribute. If so, I am cancelling my contribution. I've never heard such ludicrous 'crap' in my life. Hold on, I can't say that - being a male, I hear it almost every day. So many of the previous posters have expressed my feelings on this issue, that I won't give specifics. But I know I won't give money to such a biased organization.

cjwoshawa4
said
0 0

Instead of teaching boys that they suck, why dont we teach them how to actually be men. Why dont we teach them how to respect women, cherish women. Why dont we teach them how to love their families, respect their families and take care of their families. So much effort in our day and age goes to bash men/boys and make them feel as if they shouldn't exist, it's sad really. Most boys/men are so confused as to who they are and what they should do in our society because everyone tells them its wrong to think like a man. The simple message in our society is that to be a women, you are angelic, can not do anything wrong. To be a boy or a man you are nothing but a pile of trash that should be covered up and shoved in the corner to risk any form of embarassment.

Blake
said
0 0

People seem to be outraged that 31 per cent of young Canadian boys have this particular outlook.I find it encouraging - what was the percentage 10 years ago? A generation ago? I'd be willing to bet it was higher.Changes take time and that seems to be lost on a lot of people who want change RIGHT NOW. Sorry folks but that's not how life works. Change is generational. My grandfather's generation believed that women shouldn't work. My father's generation didn't believe that women worked in jobs like senior management. My generation, I think, believes that any job is available if you work for it. My son's generation - will be what they make of it. So, 31 per cent is just a number. Check back in another generation - be willing to bet it's even lower.

Margaret Med Hat
said
0 0

Today's young people are "swinging back" to the "Leave it Beaver days", because in those days, women didn't put in 16 - 18 hour days doing two full time jobs (one outside the home, the other inside the home). When their kids came home, Mom was always there for them. Not an empty house. When her husband came home, he was greeted warmly with some sort of recognition that he was appreciated, not given a list of "to do" chores to be done. Today's girls have seen their Moms struggle to be "super Moms", and have seen/lived the results - less family time, more stress, less security. They don't want to "be like Mom". Boys have also seen/lved the results - the tension, the less time with both parents, the feeling of "being ignored" while Mom gets dinner going, rushes to get the laundry done, pushes herself to the limit to keep the house clean and get the kids to all their extra-curricular activities on time. The fact that many women's professions don't pay what men's trades do, also does not help. When an RN with a University degree earns LESS than a recently licensed Journeyman Carpenter, something is wrong. Even a Teacher earns less than a tradesperson when both are just "starting out". Society has to address these inequities IF they don't want all the advances that women made in the 1960's and 1970's (the so-called sexual revolution) to go the way of the dinosaur. Young women need to be educated in the "way it WAS" so they understand WHY it's important to not "lose what was gained".

chel in the Peg
said
0 0

I was born in the 60's, but my parents were very progressive when it came to gender roles. I was raised to understand there were no set roles - you do whatever works for your particular situation, and if you're happy and content the whole gender stereotype concept becomes irrelevant.

CB
said
0 0

My mom was a stay at home mom for 25 years. The day my dad left she was left with no experience no education (after highschool) and no training. Needless to say she is struggling. She had to give up her big house for a tiny apertment she can barely afford on her minimum wage salary and has to start her life all over again at 50 -something. I had a wonderful childhood and really appreaciate all the things I learned and experienced having my mother at home, but with the divorice rate so high in this country I no longer believe this is the best choice for women. I think it is very important for women in this day in age to be well educated and have some work experience,even if its only part time, while they raise their children. I have a lot of respect for all of you stay at home moms I just would hate to see this happen to you.

rkozga1
said
0 0

"Boys are part of the solution and we need to engage them because frankly, all our research is showing that gender inequality doesn't work for them either," says McCarney." Since the 1970s, with male bashing, the defiling of male role-models, the mindset of the Canadian Family Court system, and the elevation to star-status of the "single mom", you could say that the drive for alleged �gender equality� has not worked for boys either. In Canada, even the �Boy� Scouts had to drop the �Boy� (not to worry: the �Girl Guides�,� Brownies�, and �Sparks� remain only for girls run by women). And the educational system has not cared for boys� needs either. Which boys or men�s organisations or �center� exist in Canada, publicly and/or United Way Campaign financially assisted, speak for Canadian boys� and men�s needs and concerns?

Momma of 3
said
0 0

I am a professional working woman and I have girl friends who are strong career women too, bosses in upper management; yet we would all agree that after work hours we have children to take care of and a fancy or simple dinner to prepare. I don't feel offended about the young boys' views. This is BIOLOGY; even if I was the first female astronaut to Mars, the caring for children and cooking for your family part would still apply.

Laurie
said
0 0

Sure gender sterotypes exist and will always... because women are not men and men are not women. In spite of this great effort of resocialization .... it doesen't work, and will never work ,because there are gender differences in preferences.Women are still the nurturers of children and men are still the protectors and supporters of their families. It won't be changed because it is simply nature. Equality yes... but roles are natural tendencies.

Alyssa
said
0 0

Elyzabeth said "It is outrageous that 31 per cent of Canadian boys believe that an important role of their mother is to take care of the children!" I'm sorry but taking care of children IS an important role of mothers! It may not be their only role but it still qualifies as important!!! While my husband and I both work and share household chores equally I still feel that mothers are a very important part of a child's growing up years and should play an active role in their lives!

Alia in Toronto
said
0 0

It's not as clear cut as gender roles always being 'stereotypes', there are very real, tangible issues that need to be addressed like children need their mothers. I am a feminist, educated, traveled blah blah , I have all the modern trappings and I stay home with my children because I saw met the decimated adults who were latchkey kids or neglected or in daycare 50 hours a week. Being home with my children is starting to make me squirrely and I have come to dread trips to the playground and other mom's are bat-crazy so I keep my distance from their hysteria, hormones and competition to see who looks best but, I know my children are growing up with their mother. It's not all chocolate chips cookies & picnics in the sun, that too would be a stereotype, it's also poopy diapers at three years old because potty training is not happening and it's no sleep & inane children's programming and passed out from exhaustion at 8pm very night so there is no adult life and it's mind numbing boredom and loneliness ... it's hard, really hard but, these are my beloved children and they need me. Life is not the lie that Hollywood and media portray it, it's about commitment to your loved ones when it's hard and it's sacrifice and it's about giving even when you can not give for one more second. If this is not the life you want then don't have children, there are ways to have a fulfilling and full life.

sn
said
0 0

1. I'd like to know what demographic they polled for this ( City, Rural, Province, Culture and Nationality) as that would give a false positive answer to an ambiguous question.2. The right PERSON for the job should always be the goal for employment not what's politically correct. (I'm a woman working in a male dominant industry and still found my feet )3. We are different as genders with our strength and weaknesses complimenting each other. 4. There is such an agenda to eliminate or blur genders we have men who don't know how to be men and women who don't know how to be women with a healthy respect for the other.5. In this country at least if you want something regardless of sex the only barrier to succeeding is yourself and that includes the breaking stereotypes.

Christine
said
0 0

@ Diane- Really, Diane!?! "women get confused about wanting to be a fighter pilot which is always the domain of the man". Who says? People choose careers that interest them or out of neccessity, not to prove a point. If the person is qualified they should be allowed to do the job. A stay at home mom is as valuable as a woman that chooses to be a doctor or pilot, not everyone has to have kids and not everyone has to work outside the home, that's the point. We have choices.

icanthinkformyself
said
0 0

Maybe because "gender stereotypes" are correct.

I am amazed that the political brainwashing of the left wing public schools hasn't completely wiped away all intelligence from these people.

You probably won't post this because it isn't "politically correct", but you could prove me wrong.

A Mommy
said
0 0

I am a stay at home mom of 6 kids - so far. I **LOVE** my "sterotypical role" I know a lot of people whose parents "evolved" more rapidly than we did and they were sad that mom was always gone and they were stuck with a sitter. One sat in a corner and smelled her moms shirt she missed her so bad. To those who hate the role of wife and home maker, fine, all the power to you - enjoy busting out of your stereotypical role and go varsity, don't reproduce either! But leave me alone to enjoy my "archaic" role! My stone age children and I want to be left alone to enjoy sunny fall outings, and fresh home made choc. chip cookies!

Prof. Pye Chartt
said
0 0

Unless you're an overbearing social engineer with stereotypical paranoia, this survey is culturally benign and fluffy. Gender equality is handled directly in most public and private schools and, moreover, plenty of Canadian kids see Mom with a job or career, while Dad helps out admirably and picks up more than just the slack. Have we achieved perfection in gender equality? No. However, the suggestion that we somehow need to be concerned in Canada ignores the realities, choices, and preferences of our evolving gender culture. Things are always shifting, and significant change takes significant time. Relax. (Should we have our politicians draft some legislation?)

Buddywasisname
said
0 0

Well at least 31 per cent of male kids have it right while the adults are all stunned due to liberal social engineering.

James
said
0 0

We are all 'equal' under God but we were created differently to serve different roles in life why else do we have two genders to start with.... Duh? It's time the lefties understood those basic facts but dont count on it they have an agenda they are stuck in.

John
said
0 0

I'm a single father to a small child and I experience resistance that borders on bizarre, that somehow I'm genetically inferior as a parent. The problem for youth is the media. The long list of superficial stereotypes for girls has blown the image for women back to the 1950's and the ridiculous requirement that boys be tall (although 80 per cent won't make it) or somehow they're failures as men. These kids are going to be a generation of confused neurotics.

Diane
said
0 0

I have no problem with 'stereotypical' views. Men and women are NOT equal. We each serve various roles in life. Observe the fact that some women get confused about wanting to be a fighter pilot or combat soldier which are always the domain of the man. Perhaps women would like to be garbage women or clean out septic tanks to prove some sort of gender equality? Should men feign pregnancy? Folks those pushing this equality agenda are pushing an agenda counter to the way things were meant to be. Listen to your common sense its there for a reason.

Borpo
said
0 0

Hunter gatherers, and nesters. Mammals everywhere are outraged!

You do what you can
said
0 0

Actually, the dominant dominate, the submissive submit. It matters not whether one is male or female. I know dominant males and dominant females. The dominant male group out numbers the dominant female group by about 20 to 1 but that's not to say that all men dominate all women. As for what this article speaks to, I guess my wife and I are exceptions. I do most of the cooking and cleaning, she makes the major dough. We split the more onerous chores but I'm the anal one who likes things just so. We know couples where neither is a Suzy homemaker and their house is a shambles. We know couples that split duties like we do. It's not up to the media to influence anyone. It's up to parent to teach their kids what they need to know to survive. Hey, if a guy can't cook he either eats out every night or he starves. If a woman can't do laundry, she either buys new clothes every day, uses a dry cleaner or she stinks. I guess I'm lucky that my mother, who raised all 5 of her kids while my dad went to work, taught me to cook, clean and do laundry.

AC in NB
said
0 0

Why some people want to fight human nature is beyond me. I believe people should be treated equally in life. There is no reason we should not accept certain gender roles. Believe it or not, men and women are different. To Frank Buchan, are you saying that if there was an intruder in your home in the midle of the night, you'd sent your wife to check it out? When there's an emergency and it's women and children first, you're at the front of the line? After supper, you'll do the dishes while your wife chops some firewood? The list goes on...... There's nothing wrong with being different, as long as we're RESPECTED EQUALLY.

Geoff
said
0 0

"That's why we need to find ways to engage boys and men in redefining traditional male roles so that they become supporters and active proponents of gender equality."--------- Interesting how they always tweak these "surveys" to reflect badly on males. How about releasing the results of the question "who's responsibility is it to provide the family's money?" You can be assured that most young women will still say "the man". I just read another survey that said that although over sixty percent of university students are now women, the majority of them have NO plans to work once they get married.

Whither Canada
said
0 0

Hmmm...... read between the lines here - "poverty places a heavy burden", men are principal providers ", "when men and (sic) women are(sic) equal partners, are active parents, take an interest in their children's work, both boys and girls benefit". Sounds like the old traditional gainfully employed man and women marriage raising children equally is most beneficial to children's welfare. Nothing here about single parents, welfare supported government assisted child rearing. So Ozzy and Harriet were right all along.

Elyzabeth
said
0 0

Plan International is doing great work to protect the world's girls. It is outrageous that 31 per cent of Canadian boys believe that an important role of their mother is to take care of the children! This number must be reduced to zero. Males need to be trained to get rid of their stereotypes. Males get paid too much comapred to females. Males need to step aside and allow more women to become company presidents and world leaders.

Big A
said
0 0

it is time that our society comes to face reality in that the male is different than the femaile. Yes there is a difference. When a child is crying a women(female) is quite successful in using "instinctive" actions to comfort the child. A man is more cumbersome not on purpose but perhaps a bit uncomfortable. If a stone wall falls apart the man (male) is usually more adapt at putting it back together. NOW BEFORE the women go berserk, this is generally speaking not 100 per cent of the time. There are women(females) out there that are perfectly adept at handling the wall and there are men(males) who are perfectly adept at raising children. BUT the norm is that the two genders, and there is a difference, have different roles from their DNA's and from Mother Nature. The sooner that equality seekers and reporters who have nothing better to do accept this the sooner we can focus those energies to something more important.

Stay-at-home-Mom (Pelham, ON)
said
0 0

What is wrong with the traditional roles? I'm a stay-at-home-mom and I am very proud of it. In our family, it is my job to take of the kids, the house and make most of the meals. Being a stay-at-home-mom doesn't mean that I'm just a mom. I'm a chef, paramedic, housekeeper, mediator, activity planner; entertainment advisor; teacher; therapist; chauffeur.. lol.. need I go on? But I love every minute :-) I am happy that I have the oppertunity and the choice to stay at home with my 3 children and watch the grow up. At this point of my life, there is nothing else I would rather be doing.

joe canada
said
0 0

I do not think it is taught to our children it just happens. My wife and I have never talked about it but we just instinctively do certain jobs. I usually mow the lawn, take out the garbage, if something is broken I fix it. etc, etc. My wife will usually do the laundry, bath my daughter, dishes, etc, etc. We both cook, pile fire wood and garden. That being said we expose our daughter to all the jobs we do and she can learn them and decide what she like for herself.

Ian Ottawa
said
0 0

Why can't we have it all? My wife is a Senior Officer in the military and has had three children yet still has time for her job and her family. None of our children have suffered other than postings every one to three years, in fact they are far more aware of area's of Canada than the average person. My wife loves to Quilt and cook as well as to get out and help do outdoor jobs with a hammer and power tools. I believe we as people make a choice and it should fit to the lifestyle your family dynamics want with the agreement of both parents (or partners). My wife and I agreed that her career was more important than mine so she worked and I stayed at home with the kids. Our choice.

J.L Halifax
said
0 0

When I hear of gender stereotypes I kinda chuckle a little. I guess they are out there but I never pay attention to them. I am a woman who works in a predominantly male environment. While my husband and I both go away for work, he is better at the day to day running of the house. I have never been good at domestic things. We do not base our roles in our home on man/woman. We base them on what we are good at and what benefits our family. It's all about balance and what works for you.

Jerry
said
0 0

None of the pressure comes from the media. All of the pressure comes from millions of years of evolution. It's idiotic to think women don't have a greater interest in homemaking than men do just from nature. That has nothing to do with equality. Taking care of the homestead and providing food are equally as important as bringing in money and fixing things. If anything we need to celebrate and respect both roles. If a couple wants to reverse the roles, all power to them but there's nothing wrong with traditional male-female roles.

Frank Buchan
said
0 0

While not surprised, I am saddened. Some days it strikes me that all we have learned as a species is how to desperately avoid change, and ensure our own destruction. Apparently we aren't intelligent enough to recognise that gender differences do not imply or mean anything but the obvious facts of mechanics. And I'm not discounting choices, just saddened that as a society we still have blinders on about "roles" rather than open eyes focused on "skills" and "talents." Last week at my daughter's school I had a strange example of this blindness when the table with "boy's toys" was pointed out to me. Apparently building blocks, cars and trucks, and the like are reserved for boys. Sad indeed.

Brandon in NB
said
0 0

Being a man and wanting to protect and provide for your family is a basic instinct. Woman have a basic instinct to raise children. I am not saying this is the case for 100 per cent of men and women. I am not sexist or prejudice in any way. All I am trying to say is that this would happen with or without media or family pressure. I'm all for equality but we evolved differently. Deal with the cards you were dealt. And props to you if you are a successful person regardless of gender.