Gender stereotypes are strongly established ###### today's youth by age 10, ###### to a new study just ######. Gender stereotypes lay out a ###### set ideas about the ways ###### and girls should behave.

The ###### can be dangerous for those ###### go against them. Children who ###### against gender stereotypes can be ###### to feel bad about themselves ###### are often picked on. They ###### at greater risk for both ###### and violence, the study warns.]]>
When Gender Roles Are Set

###### roles are "well established in ###### by the time they are ###### or 11 years old," lead ###### Kristin Mmari said.

Yet billions ###### dollars around the world are ###### on programs for teenagers that "###### kick in until they are ######," Mmari said. "By then it's ###### too late to make a ###### difference."]]>
Interviews were conducted in ###### following countries: Bolivia, Belgium, Burkina ######, China, the Democratic Republic of ######, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Kenya, Malawi, ######, Scotland, South Africa, the United ###### and Vietnam.

Stereotypes Can Be Dangerous

Researchers found that ###### stereotypes that emphasize female passivity ###### encourage abuse. Girls are expected ###### stick close to home and ###### quietly accept what others tell ###### to do or do to ######.

Such stereotypes expose girls to ###### dangers. They "leave girls at ###### risk of dropping out of ###### or suffering physical and sexual ######," the report said.]]>
Boys, ###### the other hand, are encouraged ###### spend time outside of the ###### on their own.

When it ###### to dating, almost everywhere boys ###### viewed as being the ones ###### to take the first step. ###### only exception was the city ###### Edinburgh, Scotland.

Meanwhile, girls across ###### world are taught that their ###### are very important.

"In New ######, the girls talked about their ###### as a big risk that ###### to be covered up," Mmari ######.]]>
Proper Dress And Behavior

Boys can ###### from gender stereotypes too. Stereotypes ###### emphasize physical strength and independence ###### make boys more likely to ###### involved with drugs and violence.

###### researchers did find signs that ###### societies are beginning to accept ###### who want to dress or ###### like boys. This was particularly ###### in Belgium, China, India and ###### United States. However, it is ###### for boys to break out ###### gender roles.]]>
###### who "challenge gender norms by ###### dress or behavior" are widely ###### as "socially inferior," the report ######. Boys who dress or behave ###### a way girls usually do ###### often bullied, teased and beaten.

###### study found that from a ###### early age children learn to ###### of girls as weak and ######, while boys are seen as "###### and independent," researcher Robert Blum ######. This was true in all ###### countries studied.

"And this message ###### being constantly reinforced," Blum said. ###### is spread in every area ###### life, by everyone from family ###### to classmates, teachers and coaches.]]>