Western stereotype of the male ballet dancer

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Since the early 19th century, the Western world has adopted a view of male ballet dancers, or danseurs as weak, effeminate or homosexual. Through gender expectations and performance, male ballet dancers combat the stereotypes that surround them.^[1][2] Through education and media exposure, the stereotypes about male ballet dancers^{[clarification needed]} lead to changes in perception.^[3][1]