Gender Stereotypes and Gender Roles Revealed in the Students Written Work

Abstract

Masculinity and femininity are two words that entail two opposite images with distinct sets of behaviour and personal attributes. Regardless of how well these definitions fit to each individual man and woman in society, these gender stereotypes are maintained and transmitted within the society throughout years. In return, gender stereotypes and roles affect men and women in society. In this study, 96 English Language Teaching (ELT) junior students are given a questionnaire to get socio-economic information about them and their families. Later, the samples of their process writing work in Advanced Reading and Writing Course I are scanned to find expressions revealing their ideas about gender stereotypes and gender roles. These expressions and their frequency are listed. It is thought that this study will reveal gender stereotypes and roles shared by the average language students at universities.