What do individuals face when they break gender norms?

When individuals break gender norms, they often encounter negative sanctions, which refer to the social penalties or repercussions that arise from violating societal expectations. This can manifest in various forms, such as disapproval from peers, ostracism, or even more serious consequences such as harassment or discrimination. Society tends to enforce gender norms to maintain social order, and deviations from these expectations can lead to backlash, highlighting the pressures individuals face to conform.

In contrast, the other choices depict more positive or neutral social interactions. Social rewards typically come from adherence to expected behaviors rather than challenging them, while encouragement from peers usually occurs in supportive environments where norms are more fluid or actively challenged. Acceptance from family can also be contingent upon conforming to traditional gender roles, so it is less likely to occur when someone defies those norms. Therefore, the primary challenge for individuals who break gender norms is the risk of experiencing negative sanctions from their social environment.