Gender Stereotypes and the Culture of Violence: Breaking Down Modern Misconceptions

The concepts of “woman” and “man” are constantly evolving, making it challenging to define them clearly in the modern world. However, some ideas persist through the centuries. This article explores the stereotypes and beliefs about male and female sexuality that continue to exist today and how they reinforce a culture of violence.

The Male Body for Action, the Female Body for Decoration

One of the most unnatural forms of sexism is the focus on the beauty of the female body. A common belief is that the female body is inherently delicate, fragile, and aesthetically beautiful, while the male body is strong, capable, and action-oriented. This belief not only contradicts modern beauty standards but also perpetuates a latent form of abuse.

Firstly, it leads to the idealization of male and female beauty. Secondly, according to this logic, men are expected to be active and achieve their goals, while women are supposed to “sit and be beautiful.” This dichotomy suggests that men are active beings and women are passive, which explains why women often become victims of sexual, physical, and emotional violence. Women’s roles are often seen as providing aesthetic and physical pleasure when required.

There are few stereotypes about male beauty, reinforcing the idea that male beauty is for personal enjoyment, while female beauty is for external evaluation. This objectification strips women of their individuality and naturalness. It’s easy to become a victim of violence when you are seen as an object subjected to others’ actions.

Men Desire, Women Want to Be Desired

The culture of relationships between men and women is built on a simple formula: men feel attraction, and women want to be attractive. This objectification of women forces them to be passive and desire their own passivity. This idea leads to another, less obvious one: men desire women, and women want to be pursued. Therefore, the only way for a man to achieve intimacy with a woman is to apply pressure.

We are not trying to discredit the culture of courtship, but it’s important to note that viewing women as powerless beings when they are not can lead to disastrous results. According to this logic, a woman exists only when she is noticed and attracts desire. The only thing a woman needs is to attract this desire from men. Therefore, the phrase “I don’t want this” means nothing because a woman cannot have her own desires; her role is to evoke sympathy.

The fact that a woman’s “no” is often stereotypically interpreted as a hidden “yes” can be destructive. A man will “pursue” a woman because a woman cannot pursue a man. Therefore, her lack of interest means nothing; she is just behaving like a “typical woman.” The idea that a man’s role is to act leads men to psychologically strive to “obtain” the woman they like. If they fail, they feel they have not done their “job.” This dynamic suggests that mutual consent for sex does not exist, as men use various methods to persuade women to do what they want.

Men Want Sex, Women Want Love

The misconception that men are more interested in sex and women in love is deeply rooted in relationship culture. This has led to a theory where women “allow” sex in exchange for love, and men offer love in exchange for sex. However, if someone engages in sex solely to get what they need, it cannot be considered conscious consent.

This form of violence is common in relationships where one partner is not in the mood for sex. Manipulating a partner’s feelings to get what you want or expressing dissatisfaction is wrong. The fact that men are interested in sex and are generally less sensitive reinforces the “male role” in the culture of violence. Women, seen as less sexually active, lose the ability to express conscious consent.

If a woman is sexually unattractive, asexual, or not interested in sex, her feelings and desires are often ignored. Believing that women are not interested in sex but crave love means that all they can say is “okay,” but sex requires a firm “yes.”

Men Are Aggressive, Women Are Gentle

This idea is another example of sexism. No one wants to be around an aggressive person. Women who exhibit aggressive behavior suffer more than men because female aggression is used to justify male aggression. If a man is physically violent towards a woman or another man, it’s not surprising: “Men will be men,” says a common stereotype. However, women who exhibit aggression are demonized by society.

If negative actions such as criticism, harassment, physical interactions, or violence are directed at men, aggressive behavior is considered normal because it is seen as part of male nature. Women who defend themselves with force receive much criticism. Recall the case of Gigi Hadid, who elbowed a fan who grabbed her bag and tried to lift her without her consent. She received many negative comments on social media, and one so-called fan even cursed her. This reaction is far from adequate, but it is how mass culture is built.

When we think that men are naturally aggressive and cannot control their reactions to external stimuli, the blame for their overly active actions is shifted to the victims, who are said to have provoked such a reaction. In cases of violence, a female victim may be considered wrong because she was dressed inappropriately, responded or reacted too harshly, defended herself with force, or even used improvised means for self-defense. Violence is wrong, and no one, regardless of their appearance, should be punished in this way. Until both partners consent to sexual activity, such actions are considered wrong.