How do gender stereotypes influence the discourses of youth sexuality Essay

How do gender stereotypes influence the discourses of youth sexuality studies by Beres and the forms of sexual coercion among youth studies by Hartwick et al - Essay Example This double standard where sexual initiation and assertiveness is concerned is what propagates the gender stereotype (Hartwick et al 159). The same gender stereotype is discussed in Beres’ article which concerns discourses on youth sexuality especially the unplanned sexual encounter â€Å"it just happened.† In this case, women are portrayed as naà ¯ve where the unplanned sexual encounter is concerned whereas the males are seen as the propagators having had time to contemplate and plan of their moves to the last detail of how they can lure the woman to bed but at the same time making it appear as is if â€Å"it just happened† (Beres 171). It is this assumption that leads to gender stereotype. According to the research carried out by both Hartwick et al and Beres, it is evident that women who engage knowingly in sexual behavior or openly portray their sexual assertiveness are considered â€Å"sluts† by the society. This negative branding of the women is however not accorded to the men. It is actually a benefit and a â€Å"normal† thing for men to have expansive information and knowledge about sexual matters which even guarantees them positive praises from the same society. It is actually deemed â€Å"womanly† when a man is not sexually pervasive or does not plan for a sexual encounter even when it seems â€Å"accidental† to the woman. Based on this and also as a result of this stereotype, it therefore does not come as a surprise that for the sexually assertive women to term the unplanned sexual encounters as â€Å"accidents† or indicate that â€Å"it just happened† than openly admit they also had premeditated the encounter and had even instigated and propelled it to some extent. The lack of belief and even societal pressure for the women to be sexually â€Å"naive† and the men to have sexual â€Å"machismo† is what leads to men becoming irresponsible and even not care about their sexual actions. Based on Beres’ article, men are