When G.I. Joe starts painting his nails and Barbie joins the Army
Gender roles in society and how stereotypes suppress individual expression

By Christin Hardy, deputy features editor
Published: Sunday, October 18, 2009

http://www.technicianonline.com/features/when-g-i-joe-starts-painting-his-nails-and-barbie-joins-the-army-1.2026013

According to the dictionary, gender is defined as the state of being male or female. In the most basic way, what makes males and females different is physical anatomy; however, in society what makes them different is a much more complex definition involving a web of behaviors, speech and dress.

One of the most common places where societal gender roles are publicly acknowledged is when going to the restroom where males encounter an icon wearing pants, while females are represented by a skirt-wearing icon.