Assignment 2: Expectations from Genders

The foundations of courtship are vast and complicated, regardless of cultural practices and environments. In this assignment, you will focus on Sternberg’s triangular theory of love which depicts the relationships between intimacy, passion, and commitment. You will also explore the impact society has on each of these variables.

Using the module readings, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, research Sternberg’s theory.

Complete the following:

• Describe Sternberg’s triangular theory of love.
• Apply Sternberg’s theory to examine social norms and roles expected of your stated gender. Focus on social roles and norms including, but not limited to, the following areas and origins of adult relationships:
  • Dating practices including social media sites such as Match.com
  • Family planning
  • Daily parenting practices and changing roles related to career(s) and education

Support your assertions using valid research. Be sure to integrate your personal experiences and examples in your paper.

Write a 2–3-page paper in Word format. Apply APA standards to the formatting of your paper and the citation of sources. Remember to include a cover page and reference page in APA format. Use the following file naming convention: LastnameFirstInitial_M4_A2.doc.

Assignment 2 Grading criteriaMaximum Points

Described Sternberg’s triangular theory of love.12Applied Sternberg’s theory to examine norms and roles expected of the stated gender including dating practices, family planning, and parenting practices.60Integrated research, personal experiences, and examples into the paper.8Wrote in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrated ethical scholarship in accurate representation and attribution of sources; displayed accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.20Total:100
What are gender roles?

Gender roles in society means how we’re expected to act, speak, dress, groom, and conduct ourselves based upon our assigned sex. For example, girls and women are generally expected to dress in typically feminine ways and be polite, accommodating, and nurturing. Men are generally expected to be strong, aggressive, and bold.

Every society, ethnic group, and culture has gender role expectations, but they can be very different from group to group. They can also change in the same society over time. For example, pink used to be considered a masculine color in the U.S. while blue was considered feminine.
How do gender stereotypes affect people?

A stereotype is a widely accepted judgment or bias about a person or group — even though it’s overly simplified and not always accurate. Stereotypes about gender can cause unequal and unfair treatment because of a person’s gender. This is called sexism.

There are four basic kinds of gender stereotypes:

Personality traits — For example, women are often expected to be accommodating and emotional, while men are usually expected to be self-confident and aggressive.

Domestic behaviors — For example, some people expect that women will take care of the children, cook, and clean the home, while men take care of finances, work on the car, and do the home repairs.

Occupations — Some people are quick to assume that teachers and nurses are women, and that pilots, doctors, and engineers are men.

Physical appearance — For example, women are expected to be thin and graceful, while men are expected to be tall and muscular. Men and women are also expected to dress and groom in ways that are stereotypical to their gender (men wearing pants and short hairstyles, women wearing dresses and make-up.

Hyperfemininity is the exaggeration of stereotyped behavior that’s believed to be feminine. Hyperfeminine folks exaggerate the qualities they believe to be feminine. This may include being passive, naive, sexually inexperienced, soft, flirtatious, graceful, nurturing, and accepting.

Hypermasculinity is the exaggeration of stereotyped behavior that’s believed to be masculine. Hypermasculine folks exaggerate the qualities they believe to be masculine. They believe they’re supposed to compete with other men and dominate feminine folks by being aggressive, worldly, sexually experienced, insensitive, physically imposing, ambitious, and demanding.

These exaggerated gender stereotypes can make relationships between people difficult. Hyperfeminine folks are more likely to endure physical and emotional abuse from their partners. Hypermasculine folks are more likely to be physically and emotionally abusive to their partners.

Extreme gender stereotypes are harmful because they don’t allow people to fully express themselves and their emotions. For example, it’s harmful to masculine folks to feel that they’re not allowed to cry or express sensitive emotions…