Sex-role stereotypes are the shared expectations within a society or social group regarding what is appropriate behaviour for men and women. Stereotypes are fixed beliefs about a particular group of people (e.g. men are strong; women are caring) and roles are the behaviours individuals show in a particular situation, which are affected by expectations (e.g. males being heroic; females caring for children or elderly relatives). Sex-role stereotypes are learned from birth, as children are exposed to the attitudes of their parents and others in society.