Final answer:
Society teaches and reinforces gender stereotypes from a very young age, suggesting that girls should be sensitive and gentle, while boys should be tough. Research shows that such stereotypes are perpetuated through different treatments in school settings and parental expectations. Combating these norms involves intentional efforts to create environments like Sweden's Egalia preschool, which pursues gender neutrality in early education.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, in society gender roles are often introduced early in childhood and can dictate how boys and girls believe they should behave. These societal norms suggest that girls are more sensitive and gentle, while boys are taught to be more tough and aggressive. Evidence shows that this dichotomy is reinforced as early as kindergarten, where studies have found that teachers may treat and praise male students differently than female students, and these behaviors contribute to reinforcing gender stereotypes. As children grow, they learn specific roles and expectations through socialization, which often includes oversimplified and restrictive notions about what attitudes, traits, or behavior patterns are appropriate for their gender.
Societal expectations of gender influence various aspects of life, from play activities and chores assigned at home to how children internalize their own importance and capabilities. The efforts of places like the Egalia preschool in Sweden to create a genderless environment are significant steps towards countering these ingrained societal scripts and allowing children to develop without rigid gender norms.