Anti-violence educator Paul Kivel emphasizes in his book "Boys Will be Men" that gender role stereotyping plays a strong role in boys' aggression. Boys who believe they have to conform to a gender role are more likely to behave in aggressive and violent ways, and this can contribute to a classroom climate of bullying. A 2011 literature analysis by the Sexual Violence Research Initiative emphasizes that equity, rather than stereotyping, contributes to less violence in adolescence and adulthood.
Gender role stereotypes tend to create a self-fulfilling prophecy, and this means that boys will struggle with "girl" subjects and girls will struggle with "boy" subjects. This is especially true of girls and math. "Stereotype threat" is the tendency of people to conform to stereotypes about their group when they're reminded of their membership in the group or the stereotype itself. Girls perform more poorly in math in gender stereotypical classrooms, according to research by the Laurel School, and boys who aren't encouraged to pursue the stereotypically female domains of literature and English may struggle with these topics, limiting their life opportunities.
A classroom that reinforces gender roles by, for example, encouraging boys to be rambunctious and girls to be nurturing reinforces gender stereotypes. Girls may believe that being assertive is unacceptable, while boys may struggle to embrace empathy and kindness. These skills are required in a host of fields, so gender stereotyping could limit a child's lifelong capabilities. A 2005 study in the "Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies" emphasizes that early experiences can shape views on gender, and a gender-stereotypical classroom could therefore permanently change perceptions.
When a classroom reinforces stereotypes about gender roles, students are more likely to segregate themselves along gender lines, according to Cordelia Fine in her book "Delusions of Gender." This gives students fewer opportunities to interact with the opposite sex, and makes it more likely that students will develop stereotypes about the other sex, perpetuating the cycle of gender stereotyping. In "Still Failing at Fairness," psychologist David Sadker emphasizes that boys who develop stereotypes about girls are more likely to have negative attitudes about women.