Many teenagers separate into gender divided groups. Discomfort with members of the opposite gender or a lack of common interest is a common cause of gender division. These are a few of the many reasons why teenagers decide to distance themselves from people of the opposite gender. Some valid and usual causes of gender separation are:
- Sexism
Sexism has caused gender division throughout the world over the years, due to bitterness over unfair treatment.
- Different Priorities
It is scientifically proven that boys in their teenage years are often less mature than girls. This impacts both friendships and romantic relationships. It may also lead to arguments because girls may want different things from their relationship.
- Gender Inequality
Over the past 20 years, studies in the US showed that most females only get paid 85% of what men working the same job make. This inequality may cause various women to distance themselves from men because they feel like they’ve been treated unfairly.
A Teenager’s Thoughts
“You don’t grow as much and never learn to have that connection with communicating with the opposite gender.”
– Anonymous ICSA student
When we asked ICSA students their opinion on the gender divide, almost half of the students said that the main cause is “different interests,” and 35.1% of students believe the main cause was “fear of judgement.”
A study conducted in the UK shows that even without sexist barriers, women often struggle in male dominated careers. Women have expressed that this is because they often feel under-represented. This is why there are more male dominated fields than female dominated fields, because women can be made to feel inferior.
For example, cuisine has long been considered a female dominated field of work, yet the vast majority of chefs around the globe are males. Because of this, many perceive see cuisine as a “male dominated field.”
Differences and Stereotypes
“If you don’t have many friends of the opposite gender, you don’t get any new interests or ideas. it stays the same”
– Anonymous ICSA Student
Every person on this planet is different, and that’s why it’s important to consider everyone’s perspectives and be mindful.
Usually, when girls and boys separate it can cause them to become ignorant. Developing stereotypes within genders is an important topic that needs to be addressed and ended.
Students believe that when you don’t socialize enough with the person of the opposite gender it can cause you to develop stereotypes. The National Library of Medicine explained that bad attitudes towards other genders can cause more separation which, in the long run, also causes more stereotypes.
Important Ages
56.1% of students of ICSA believe that the age where gender separation begins is during their middle school years, where students are 11-14 years old.
Additionally, 31.7% of students submitted also claimed that most children start separating based on gender when they’re in lower school at 4-10 years old.
Next, Upper School students were asked what age they felt was normal to have stopped gender separation. 43.9% of students said that they feel it’s normal to stop gender divides during high school years (14-17 years old). This result is supported by the fact that 85.4% of students claimed that gender separation ends once maturity hits.
Maturity
The age of maturity is usually around the age of 17-18. This evidence is true at ICSA because 11th and 12th graders visibly mix well in gender.
It’s very important to teach and raise your child in a good way so that they know that everyone is equal and people are all the same and no one is worth less. 90% of a child’s brain develops during the first 5 years of its life. This makes it vital for parents, older people, and role models to teach the children the right things.
During a child’s development, they take in everything they see and listen to everything that’s happening. Teaching children to understand that it’s not weird for boys and girls to mix, but to set the correct boundaries will help the child to not only understand interactions, but also aids in faster maturity.
From this, we learn that people need to accept each other as they are, including their differences and gender. Sexism might always be a critical issue, and will inevitably play a major role in society and mixed gender relationships.
For a related topic, make sure check out Adaya Dosso’s article if you want to know more about internal misogyny!
