The Role Of Socialization On Gender Identity - 2394 Words

The Influence of Socialization on Gender Identity Gender-Role Conformity As evident from the generalized patterns found in differences in behaviour and outlook observed between the sexes, it may be tempting, as has been done in the past, to conclude that gender is an unavoidable aspect of human existence as determined purely from one s genes. Indeed, human physiology is subject to sexual dimorphism; statistically significant differences in brain size and rate of maturation of specific substructures in the brain exist between males and females (Giedd, Castellanos, Rajapakese, Vaituzis, Rapoport, 1997), yet these physical differences fail to explain how individuals form their concept of their own gender, and why they tend to conform to their perceived gender roles as defined by the society in which they live, when these roles are ever-changing. Thus, it is important to differentiate between the physical and nonphysical traits, and how the labels of femininity and masculinity should not confuse the two aspects. As defined by Unger (1979), â€Å"sex† would be used to refer to the biological differences in males and females, while â€Å"gender† describes socioculturally determined, nonphysiological traits which are arbitrarily designated as being appropriate for either females or males. With more recent awareness and interest in matters of gender nonconformity and individual gender identity, new research now explains how these concepts of gender are shaped by social influences (PerryShow MoreRelatedGender Roles And The Potential Impact On Children s Gender Identity Socialization3189 Words   |  13 PagesStereotypical gender roles and the potential impact on children’s gender identity socialization. ‘Media corporations, with a commanding role over commodity markets have become the primary educational and cultural force in shaping, if not hijacking, how youth define their interests, values and relations to others’. (Giroux 2011) My argument throughout this essay will be that children’s programs have a significant impact and influencing effect on shaping and forming a child’s identity. It is withoutRead MoreGender Socialization And Social Control1508 Words   |  7 Pagesand large, gender socialization is a major contributor to identity and self- concept. Gender therefore becomes a characteristic that defines other’s perceptions and evaluations of us. People come to manage gender along with aspects of other aspects of the self by making sure that we are acting in gender-appropriate way (Goffman, 1959, Libby). In itself, the self is a product of social forces and it emerges through socialization. Being that gender is a major function of oneâ€℠¢s identity, stereotypesRead MoreCycle of Socialization Essay examples982 Words   |  4 Pagescycle of socialization is a process through which social identities are created, and in effect, each individual represents and is affected by their social identity. According to the cycle of socialization, the first stop in the socialization process is outside of one’s control—one is socialized even before they are born. Our social identities are predetermined, and we are born in a world with roles, rules, and assumptions already in place. Our family and role models teach these rules and roles to usRead MoreThe Dynamics Of Gender Formation1034 Words   |  5 Pages The Dynamics of Gender Formation Although some people believe that the sex role theory or the socialization model of gender as a process, in which we absorb instructions prescribed by the social institutions to act in the acceptable way to our biological sex, is a trivial issue, it is in fact crucial in terms of today’s concern over the gender formation. This significance is accurately noticed by Raewyn Connell, a renown sociologist who proclaimed her views in the essay â€Å"Gender in Personal Life†Read MoreWhat Did The Toys Received Or Played With During Childhood1057 Words   |  5 Pageschildhood do to reinforce or break those patterns of gender socialization? In my opinion, if you are a boy, you played with trucks, action figures, toy weapons, or sports equipment. If you were a girl, you played dress-up, played with dolls, or pretend kitchen sets. As we grow, we learn how to behave from those around us. At a very early age, children are introduced to certain roles that are typically linked to the ir biological sex. The term gender role refers to society s concept of how men and womenRead MoreCultural Autobiography : My Life Essay1556 Words   |  7 Pagesmeant a straight pass to male identity and heterosexuality for me. The two identities that I have possessed since my birth, of being a male and heterosexual, have played significant roles in shaping my beliefs and my perspectives. My cultural autobiography is a portrayal of how these two identities instilled different views, and how I redefined some of them at various stages of my life till now. My male identity has always been a privilege for me since birth. Gender discrimination was very pervasiveRead MoreGender Roles Of Early Childhood Development932 Words   |  4 PagesGender Roles in Early Childhood Development In a society filled with gender stereotypes, children often adopt gender roles as they move from childhood to adolescence because of the many factors that influence their views to the point they will deny certain roles because it does not fit the gender bias. During the early years, boys and girls will usually be drawn towards gender specific activities. Playing house for example, they little boy will imitate going to work, while the little girl will imitateRead MoreThe Issue Of Gender Roles883 Words   |  4 Pagesto get her dress dirty or that she is pretty, the parents implement and adopt unintentionally the gender roles imposed by society, and this is generally done really early in one’s lifetime. Gender roles are referred to as norms, which â€Å"dictates what types of behavior are generally considered acceptable, appropriate or desirable for a person based on their actual or perceived sex.† The term gender role is referred to society’s concept of how men a nd women are expected to act and how they should behaveRead MoreDo Schools and Mass Media Contribute to Stereotyped Gender Roles in Chinese Society?1586 Words   |  6 PagesGender role is defined as the social position and behavioral norm that is considered appropriate for an individual of a specific gender in the society (Liu, 2003). Every society has its unique culture and gender role is one of the products of a society’s history and culture. It is not set up by a single person within a short period, but by countless people in the society for thousands years. Parents started to shape their children’s gender by dressing and naming them according to their gender soonRead MoreImportance of Sex(Gender Role)1672 Words   |  7 PagesA gender role is a theoretical construct in the social sciences and humanities that refers to a set of social and behavioral norms that, within a specific culture, are widely considered to be socially appropriate for individuals of a speci fic gender. Proponents of gender role theory assert that observed gender differences in behavior and personality characteristics are, at least in part, socially constructed, and therefore, the product of socialization experiences; this contrasts with other models