Answer to Question #169829 in Sociology for RICHARD OWUSU

Question

 Discuss four (4) ways in which social media could be used to perpetuate gender stereotypes in an African society. In what ways can these be addressed?

Answer 1

Stereotypes are basically the thoughts, expectations and beliefs towards a certain group of people. At the workplace, female employees often face stereotypes in terms of not getting leadership positions and many other roles compared to their male counterparts. Social media is one of the tools that can be useful in perpetuating gender stereotypes. 

In an African society where female employees are stereotyped in their workplace, they do not get leadership positions than male employees. Social media can be used to challenging and going against these norms and change the perception of women in leadership. 

It can also be done through the creation of gender-sensitive and transformative content aiming at breaking gender stereotypes.

Social media can also be used to provide the same role for both genders and ensure equal rewards.

It can also be used in showing powerful women in powerful and leadership so that people can see them not like women but as experts in their field. 

All this can be attained by ensuring social media plays a role in bringing out women's best. If used as a media propagating the woman's strength, it can bring change by creating gender-transformative content, therefore breaking gender stereotypes. For this to happen, there should be rules set up via political and other organizations set up to ensure Social media is used to promote both genders' content equally.