Gender socialization starts at
birth. Parents are the first significant individuals in our lives who introduce
us to gender and gender socialization. Some interpretations of gender include just
our sex, male or female. Gender is actually the perspective and behavior that
is expected of us because we are either a male or female in society. “In
learning the gender map (called gender socialization), we are nudged into
different lanes in life – into contrasting attitudes and behaviors” (Henslin,
2012, p. 73). There are set attitudes and behaviors that is our role in life because
we were born a male or a female. When babies are born, they are wrapped in either
a pink blanket signaling a baby girl, or a blue blanket signaling a baby boy.
That is one of the first distinctions of a male and female. Females grow up and
learn to like “girly” colors like pink and purple while males grow and learn to
like different shades of blue.
As little kids learning about the world, we are introduced to different words, toys, and food. “Boys are more likely to get guns and “action figures” that destroy enemies. Girls are more likely to get dolls and jewelry” (Henslin, 2012, p. 73). From the time we are born, learn to speak, and learn the different trends in society, we are “nudged” towards the way we should act, how we should feel about certain things, and the type of items we should posses.
As little kids learning about the world, we are introduced to different words, toys, and food. “Boys are more likely to get guns and “action figures” that destroy enemies. Girls are more likely to get dolls and jewelry” (Henslin, 2012, p. 73). From the time we are born, learn to speak, and learn the different trends in society, we are “nudged” towards the way we should act, how we should feel about certain things, and the type of items we should posses.
“Goldberg and Lewis concluded
that the mothers had subconsciously rewarded their daughters for being passive
and dependent, and their sons for being active and independent” (Henslin, 2012,
p. 73). Girls’ behaviors towards situations where they are attempting to get
something they want is to just sit there and cry for their mothers. By doing
this, their mothers will come to their daughters attention and give them what
they want. On the other hand, boys’ behaviors toward situations where they are
attempting to get something they want is to physically or mentally try to get
that item or hop over that barrier. Boys will figure things out on their own to
get what they want while girls will just sit there and wait for that
opportunity to come to them. Those are some of the behaviors and attitudes that
we are “nudged” towards from our infant times.
According to Early Gender Socialization, “children start facing norms that
define “masculine” and “feminine” from an early age. Boys are told not to cry,
not to fear, not to be forgiving and instead to be assertive and strong. Girls
on the other hand are asked not to be demanding, to be forgiving, and
accommodating and “ladylike” (Early Gender Socialization). These childhood
behaviors carry on with us through our teenager and young adult years and as we
start to enter the workforce. Girls are told to be more sensitive and caring
while boys are supposed to be more aggressive and independent. In the
workforce, females are usually occupying professions like nurses and medical
assistants because it involves caring for other patients. Males usually occupy
professions like doctors, lawyers, and engineers because they are demanding fields
and men are more likely to work with their hands and construct what their mind
thinks of.
http://www.scs.sk.ca/cyber/elem/learningcommunity/finepracarts/careered/curr_content/careered/elementary/imgettlessons/jpegs/socialization1.JPG
Personally, I can relate to
gender socialization. From when I was a baby, acting, thinking, dressing, and
eating, I am definitely acting out the behaviors and attitudes of a girl. When
it comes to what my passion is and what I like to do for fun, it is not within
the attitudes and behaviors that I was brought up by. I am currently studying
Electrical Engineering (with a minor in math) at Oregon Tech. Here I am either
the only girl or one of 2-3 girls in all my classes, with the exception to some
elective courses. It is not the “norm” for a female to want to study such a
male dominated field. According to Gender
Inequality and Women in the US Labor Force, “Equality in pay has improved
in the US since 1979 when women earned about 62 percent as much as men. In
2010, American women on average earned 81 percent of what their male
counterparts earned.” The gap expectations between men and women have decreased
as the transition from a boy to a man and a girl to a woman emerges. I do feel
constrained because I do not want my parents to be disappointed by me not
entering a normal female profession. I was brought up to have good manners,
dress ladylike, have a strong and graceful personality, and to always be
friendly to others. As I was brought up, I was always pushed towards the
attitudes and behaviors of a female, however, after reaching teenage years when
I was already accustomed to the way I should act and think, my parents “let me
off the hook.” They did not tell me what to do, tell me what to wear, how to
have table manners, and so on. From our infant years till we hit our teenage
years, we are built into “gender socialization.” After that, it is in our hands
what we choose to do and how we choose to act.
Do you think girls and boys would
act different in society if they did not learn the gender map (gender
socialization)?
References:
"Early Childhood." UNICEF. N.p., 29 Aug.
2007. Web. 15 May 2013.
"Gender Inequality and Women in the
US Labor Force." Gender Inequality and Women in the US Labor Force. International
Labour Organization, 23 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 May 2013.
Henslin, J. M. (2012). Sociology a
Down-to-Earth Approach (11th ed.).
That is the most interesting article that I have ever got to read about. Wish you all the best for your future. I have also got to know about a process named select baby gender introduction which is also very effective.
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