Chapter5: Socialization and Gender Roles

Summary

Is there a Difference Between Sex and Gender?
Sex is a biological designation, whereas gender is a social creation that teaches us to be masculine or feminine as we perform various roles.
Gender Identity- a perception of themselves as either masculine or feminine, early in life
Both sexes experience emotions. What differs is how women and men express their emotions
Gender Roles- characteristics, attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that society expects of males and females
Family teaches appropriate gender roles
Gender stereotypes- expectations about how people will look, act, think, and feel based on their sex
Many biologists maintain that the differences in women’s and men’s behavior reflect innate biological characteristics, not social and cultural expectations
The Nature-Nurture Debate: Is Anatomy Destiny?
How important is Nature?
Health/biological differences: ex. Senses of smell and taste are more acute in women than in men, and hearing is better and last longer in women than in men
Different hormones (chemical substances secreted into the bloodstream by glands of the endocrine system) such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone
Refer to the case of Brenda/ David on page 110 (see Points of Interest)
How important is nurture?
Variations in gender roles: ex. Mead’s work on Arapesh, Mundugumors, and Tchumbuli locations in New Guinea
Cross-Cultural variations in male violence (see Concerns)
Successful sex assignments performed on heterosexuals
Why do Gender Roles Differ?
Sociobiology- study of how biology affects social behavior
Ex. Men are aggressive because they have to “prevail over their rivals” for mates
Social Learning Theory- people learn attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors through social interaction
Reinforcement- we receive direct or indirect rewards or punishments for particular gender role behaviors
Children also learn to behave as boys or girls through observation and imitation
Parents are often the most powerful role model
Cognitive Development Theory- children acquire female or male values on their own by thinking, reasoning, and interpreting information in their environment
Symbolic Interaction Theories- gender roles are socially constructed categories that emerge in social situations
Feminist Theories- view gender as a socially constructed role that is taught carefully and repeatedly
How do We Learn Gender Roles?
Parents- through talking, setting expectations, and providing opportunities
Play and Peer groups
Teachers and schools- how boys and girls are treated from elementary school to college
Popular culture and media- through advertising, newspapers, magazines, and electronic media
Traditional Views and Gender Roles
Instrumental roles- fathers must be “real men”
Expressive role- mothers nurture
Benefits/ Costs of traditional gender roles
Gender Roles in Adulthood
Gender and Family Life
Second shift- the household work and child care tasks that many mothers face after coming home from work
Balanced gender roles/ who makes the final call?
Gender and politics, Education, religion, and interaction
Variations in Gender Roles- looking at different countries and analyzing their gender roles

Points of Interest
The case of Brenda/David sparked my interest tremendously. I remember seeing documentaries on such cases, but nothing like this. I wish they included more on this topic to satisfy my curiosity.
The connection on page 113 between parental role models and higher self-esteem, higher grades, and lower substance abuse proved the importance of the role of the parents. If a child is unable to find someone positive to look up to inside the family, they must search for people outside of it. Therefore, they resort to celebrities and other people that do not influence their lives as much as their parents do.

Concerns
The following statement confused me: “If men were innately aggressive, they would be equally violent across all societies” page 110. I don’t quite agree with this because I don’t think you have to be violent to be aggressive. For example, men can be aggressive sexually, but not abusive towards their partners.