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Role of society in developing gender stereotypes
Gender stereotypes and its development
Gender stereotypes and its development
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It is well-known in modern culture that children begin developing gender identities from a very young age. As soon as children are able to comprehend media and the actions of those around them, they are bombarded with examples of gender roles. In fact, they are presented with these examples even before they can comprehend them. Parents may begin reading children books right from birth. The gender roles that are often present in these picture books aimed at young children become ingrained in the minds of the children, kickstarting the development of gender identity.
The children are taught to have strong bonds and frequent interactions among a wide range of kin. Generally speaking, Hispanic American children and adolescents learn to show respect for authority, the patriarchal family structure, and extended family members. Hispanic children learn early the importance of a deep sense of family responsibility, rigid definitions of sex roles, respectful and reverent treatment of the elderly, and the male's position of respect and authority in the family. Although some of the male's authority appears to be relaxing as the woman's role is redefined, women in the Hispanic culture continue to occupy a subordinate position. Stereotyped sex roles tend to exist among many Latinos: the male is perceived as dominant and strong, whereas the female is perceived as nurturing and
The documentary “The Pinks and the Blues” and the podcast “Can a Child be Raised Free of Gender Stereotypes” discuss the unconscious gender stereotypes and assumptions that our culture places upon children. Children are enculturated with ideas about who they should be, how they should think and behave, and this enculturation has distinct effects upon the child psychology and way of living in the world. The viewer is left with the question: Is it possible to raise a child without gender stereotypes? “The Pinks and the Blues” states that gendered treatment of children begins within 24 hours of the child’s birth. Descriptors for male infants and female infants were different, with boys being labeled as big, strong, and alert while girls were labeled as being delicate, petite, and inattentive.
Gender roles are taught initially in the family, re- enforced by schools and reflected by the media. These messages can have a real effect on an individual’s self-image and how they function in society. Whether it is the tales of the Disney versions, fairy tales have permeated society for ages. They are just stories told to children for entertainment. Families construct gender messages by teaching their children that boys and girls should learn the appropriate behavior and attitudes from the family and overall culture in which they grow up.
Letty Cottin, an American author and journalist once said, “When men are oppressed, it's a tragedy. When women are oppressed, it's tradition.” This quote alone is so very powerful for both men and women. For some it may cause a sarcastic reaction and not a second thought. For others, it may speak deeply and open eyes.
Children may begin their days with their mom cooking breakfast while their dad reads the daily paper. The stereotypical picture may not be the case, but it is a standard picture shown in books, television, or ideals. Society expects women to care for their families while the father remains the head of the home. The idealistic nuclear family is still a part of the expectations of society. The sexism in the classroom starts in the children’s homes.
Unlike ‘sex’, which typically refers to the biological and physiological differences, gender is a sociological concept that describes the social and cultural constructions that is associated with one’s sex (Giddens & Sutton, 2013, p. 623-667). The constructed (or invented) characteristics that defines gender is an ongoing process that varies between societies and culture and it can change over time. For example, features that are overly masculine in one culture can be seen as feminine in another; however, the relation between the two should not be seen as static. Gender socialization is thought to be a major explanation for gender differences, where children adhere to traditional gender roles from different agencies of socialization. Gender
There has been a shift in history of the specific gender roles imprinted onto the children, and presently there are no set rules and biology isn’t the only factor. The role of the child has also shifted, once upon a time children were taught the basics in school, but that was often interrupted by the farming seasons and the work that took precedence. Children were no longer expected to quickly move onto contributing jobs, but to continue
You are categorised a boy when you are one and you expected to wear clothes, have your hair, and do things that boys do. When you are a girl you are expected to talk like a girl, wear clothes girls wear and walk like a girl. These outlooks and behaviour are generally learned from home and then reinforced by peers, school experience also through viewing of television. Nevertheless, the strongest influence on gender role development occur within the family setting whereby parents permitting overtly and covertly to their
Children and young adults are identifying with gender roles at a young age due to mass media. Children develop within a society that is gender-specific when it comes to social and behavioral norms. These come from the family’s structure, how they play with others and by themselves, and school. Girls were expected to be more passive while boys were to be more aggressive and expressive with masculine behaviors. “Before the age of three, children can differentiate toys typically used by boys or girls and begin to play with children of their own gender in activities identified with that gender.
Gender roles, also known as gender stereotypes, are social and cultural norms on how females and males should conduct themselves within a society. Every culture has certain roles both genders are expected to follow. An example of this in traditional American culture is a man becoming a doctor while a female becomes a nurse or men being the hard workers and women being stay at home mothers. Gender development researchers, similar to other developmental researchers, focus on questions of change over time in gender related subjects (Ruble and Martin 1988). Research suggest that children are socialized to understand gender stereotypes at an early age.
After baby enters the world, individuals are overwhelming with symbols and languages which build the concept of gender roles and gender stereotypes. Language fitted to girls by family might involve affection, expressivity, delicateness or frangible, on the other hand, language appropriated to descried boys by family is usually focused on physical characteristics and cultivated traits such as strength and agility. In additions, fathers play a major role of instilling their children with the strongest pressure for gender specific behavior (Long, 2011). They give rewards and positive feedback for gender behavior to daughter but punish sons for gender inappropriate behavior and given more on negative
Gender Stereotyping suppresses an individual to believe that they are not perfect and will not be accepted by society unless they follow the societal norms. The most shocking part about gender stereotyping in children, is that adults instill it in them without even realizing they do. Consider a person’s life for example. From the moment he/she born, that one word defines most if not all of their life choices starting with the clothes they wear to the decorations in their room to the toys they play with. “Children develop gender-typed patterns of behavior and preferences as early as age 15 to 36 months” states a psychological viewpoint on gender stereotyping in children.
Every culture has different guidelines about what is suitable for males and females and family members may socialize babies in gendered ways without consciously following that path. For example, in a modern society, the colour pink is associated with girls and the colour blue with boys. Even as tiny babies, boys and girls are dressed differently according to what is considered ‘appropriate’ to the respective sexes. Even parents who strive to achieve a less ‘gendered’ parenting style unconsciously reinforce gender roles. A family structure acts as the most important agent of gender socialization for children and adolescents as it serves as the centre of a child’s life.
When parents first find out the gender of their baby, they automatically start to characterize the objects they buy based on that gender. They start to decorate the nursery in certain colors and a common theme they believe matches the sex of the baby. The most common representation for girls is pink and for boys is blue. Even a non-blue and a non-pink theme, such as a jungle, can still reflect the gender identity of the child based on the undertones of femininity or masculinity. This common theme of adults assuming what they believe is appropriate for a girl or boy will continue throughout the child’s life and will affect his or her views on acceptable gender roles and gender behavior.
