Gender Socialization Theory
Why do men and women act the way they do? Such scholars as Judith Butler have proposed that gender is socially constructed and that men and women act the way they do because of gender socialization.
Other People Are Reading
-
Socialization
-
Socialization is the process by which individuals are taught to follow social conventions. Individuals are taught through verbal and nonverbal cues how to behave.
Psychoanalysis
-
Sigmund Freud theorized that gender comes into existence when the genitals are seen for the first time. Freud stated that men develop castration anxiety and women develop penis envy.
-
Social Learning
-
Some believe that men and women receive positive reinforcement when they behave in ways appropriate to their gender while receiving negative reinforcement for behaving like the opposite gender.
Cognitive Development
-
Those who believe in the cognitive development theory of gender socialization believe that men and women attempt to differentiate themselves from each other in order to organize the world cognitively.
Significance
-
Gender socialization leads to society trying to push individuals into certain social roles despite their preferences. Gender socialization also gives alternative explanations to biological explanations of gender behavior.
-
References
More Like This
Comments
-
Gender Socialization Society expects different attitudes and behaviors from boys and girls. Gender socialization is the tendency for boys and girls to be socialized differently. Boys are raised to conform to the male gender role, and girls are raised to conform to the female gender or role. A gender role is a set of behaviors, attitudes, and personality characteristics expected and encouraged of a person based on his or her sex.
-
Influence of Family. Every culture has different guidelines about what is appropriate for males and females, and family members may socialize babies in gendered ways without consciously following that path. For example, in American society, the color pink is associated with girls and the color blue with boys. Even as tiny babies, boys and girls are dressed differently, according to what is considered “appropriate” for their respective sexes. Even parents who strive to achieve a less “gendered” parenting style unconsciously reinforce gender roles.
