Gender socialization is the process through which children learn behaviors, attitudes, and norms associated with their gender from various social agents. Parents, teachers, peers, and media all contribute to gender socialization from a young age by modeling different expectations for boys and girls. Parents often engage in different activities with sons and daughters that demonstrate masculinity and femininity. Teachers and schools may unintentionally reinforce gender stereotypes through separating students or disciplining them differently based on gender. Peers also teach children appropriate behavior for their gender through play and interactions. Media conveys gender roles and can strengthen stereotypes about what it means to be a boy or girl.
2. Gender Socialization- Definitions
• Gender socialisation is the process through which children learn about social
expectations, attitudes, and behaviours typically associated with boys and girls
(Encyclopedia of Early Childhood Development).
• According to Henslin (1999), “Gender Socialization refers to the learning
of behavior and attitudes considered appropriate for a given sex”.
• Cynthia Vinney (2019) defines it as “Gender Socialization is the process by
which we learn our culture’s gender related rules, norms and expectations”.
3. Gender Socialization- Definitions
Gender socialisation is a process in which one learns the behaviours,
attitudes, and norms, and understand the social and cultural expectations in
relation to one’s gender.
4. Agents of Gender Socialisation
• Parents: Parents are typically a child’s first source of information about
gender. From birth, parents communicate different expectations to their
children depending on their sex. For example, a son may engage in more
roughhousing with his father, while a mother takes her daughter shopping.
• Teachers :Teachers and school administration model roles sometimes
demonstrate gender stereotypes by responding to male and female students
in different ways. For example, separating students by gender for activities or
disciplining students differently depending on their gender may reinforce
children’s developing beliefs and assumptions.
5. Agents of Gender Socialisation
• Peers: Peer interaction also contributes to gender socialisation. Children tend
to play with same gender peers. Through these interactions, they learn what
their peers expect of them as boys and girls. These lessons may be direct,
such as when a peer tells the child that a certain behaviour is or is not
appropriate for their gender.
• . Media: Media including movies, television, and books teach children about
what it means to be a boy or a girl. The media conveys information about the
role of gender in people’s lives and can reinforce gender stereotypes.
6. Feel free to ask any question....
Prepared By,
Dr. Prerna Mandhyan
Asst. Prof.
Dept. of Education
D. S. College, Katihar
7/23/2021
