Gender in Television

This week for class we watched an episode of The Office, and I was shocked to see how much of the show is based around content that is offensive towards women, and places them into gender stereotypes. While I had seen the show many times before, I had never stepped back and looked at what was happening throughout the show. Since watching that episode, I haven't been able to watch any other show without thinking about what the jokes, and the overall theme of the show was saying about women. Sometimes the shows would be fairly gender-neutral and not offensive in any way, other shows it seems the entire theme of the show revolves around exploiting gender stereotypes.
I have always been decent at spotting sexism in advertisements, but when I start looking at other things I'll see gender stereotyping happening everywhere. I can't help but wonder how much longer it will continue happening, and what it will take for it to stop.

What is gender?

Gender is one of the concepts that I have been having a hard time understanding completely; particularly when it comes to people who are transgendered, transsexed,or don't identify with any genders at all. I have always thought in terms of black and white, and trying to understand the gray area that comes with gender is something that I've been having a difficult time with.
In the end I suppose it's a gray area, and it should be understood as something that is fluid and cannot be completely defined. I am interested in learning more about gender, and talking with people who don't identify with normal gender ideas, so I can get a better idea for it.