L3 Gender Socialization

Gender is a social construction

• Your gender is made up of norms and values — not biological features.

• The way you ‘perform’your gender depends on the norms and values you are taught.

• In different cultures (geography or through history) what it means to be a man or woman will change

1. At Birth / At Home with the Family

2. At School

3. The Media

4. Your Peer Group

5. At work

How is gender constructed in children?

• Toy selection (as they grow up)

• Gifts at Baby Shower

• The way the child dresses

At Birth / At Home with the Family

• Boys are thought to independent

• Girls are be thought to be calm and quiet

• Boys often dominate space (ex: playing sports)

At School

• In theory, schools have equal opportunities and policies —

but hidden messages are passed to boys and girls about what is acceptable

and what isn’t.

• Books often shows stereotypical roles for men and women.

• There are “boys' programs / courses” and “girls' programs / courses”

At School

• Role models (media personalities) in the media shape our ideas

of how to act, speak, and dress.

• Visibility

• Advertisements / Campaigns

The Media

• Peer approval / disapproval

• Teenage years

Your Peer Group

• Position

• Authority/Leadership

At work