Global Perspectives of Masculinity Connell, (2005) noted that, to understand masculinity, we must start by understanding the gender system, in which masculinities are defined. a. “Role theory” is a theory of society based on the power of custom and social conformity. People learn their roles, in the course of growing up, and then perform them under social pressure. “Sex role” theory explains gender patterns by appealing to the social customs that define proper behaviour for women and for men.
GENDER THEORIES Observation ,imitation ,rewards and punishment – these are the mechanisms by which gender develops according to social cognitive theory .Interactions between the child and the social environments are the main keys to gender development in this view .Two cognitive theories-cognitive developmental theory and gender schema theory- *The Cognitive Development Theory of Gender stated that children’s gender typing occurs after children think of themselves as boys and girls. Once they consistently conceive of themselves as male or female, children prefer activities, objects and attitudes consistent with this label. -Gender schema theory suggests that young children are influenced by society's ideas
Gender socialisation is explained as the process in which society influences its members to internalise attitudes and expectations based on gender, which refers to being either masculine or feminine. Even before the birth of a baby names for girls and boys are looked up. They are given titles, are called things like ‘pretty girl’ or ‘strong boy’ in order to give off the stereotypical way in which society has conditioned us to think (Lamanna, 2015). In the following essay we will look at gender socialisation in depth and its function in society, the micro level of the family and the bigger picture of our diverse county South Africa, we will look at ways in which it has changed and how gender identity is slowly changing in society at large. 1.
As we grow, we learn how to behave from those around us. In this socialization process, children get introduced to certain roles that remain typically linked to their biological sex. The term “gender role” refers to society’s concept of how men and women get expected to act and behave. The roles of genders greatly impact society because of inaccurate views, looks of the genders, and how gender roles get based on standards. Firstly, in the article “About Men” by Gretel Ehrlich, an American traveler and writer, an important point gets introduced.
These are the norms of the society. Although to some extent toys are supposed to educate children, it is unfortunate that the same toys pass gender stereotypes. Henslin argues that the society has gender-based roles, and children grow to adopt different duties dictated by the community (270). In this respect, the society socializes children to embrace gender differences. The toys foster the norms of appearance and gender behavior, and construct gender roles in the minds of children.
Therefore, people within the household surrounding the child have a responsibility as the initial caretakers of the child’s mental and physical growth to be cautious of what they teach the child and to recognize the outcomes of such teachings. When an individual begins his or her toddler years, gender socialization introduces particular gender stereotypes, or a narrow-minded perspective on what it means to be male or female, which includes the association of characteristics, symbols, and appearance, from his or her environment. Many characteristics are attributed to females and fall
The phrase gender role is concept of society that defines what behavior society expect form men and women and how they are suppose to act in society . While evolving, what kind of passive and active toys are allowed to play with? What kind of clothes and colors to wear? Unaware route of molding a person to fit in with society 's norms and values is called sociologists as "socialization." Many think that gender stereotyping in form of clothes, toys or books or along with other aspects, teach a children rising up to fit into conventional gender roles.
To begin with, one of the fundamental aspects of social interaction depends on an individuals´ gender identity. By interacting with others, individuals within a society create their gender identity through their sense of dominating cultural ideology, and “it is through these interactions that one of the most fundamental divisions of society, male and female, is legitimated” (West & Zimmerman, 1987, p. 126). That is to say, society creates gender, not vice versa. This gender categorization and basic distinction between genders, children learn early on from their parents and other influencing adult figures. As a result, when children mature they take on these adopted characteristics of their societal attributes and emerge into intermediate adolescence
Differences in men’s and women’s speech People will consciously and unconsciously perform each identity. Language is a form of performance. The conventions of linguistic behaviour of men and women are strained from the performance of the felt and desired gender identity of a person. The above-mentioned conventions are based on natural discourse of the genders as well as on the ideologies of gendered speech behaviour within a society. Feminist movements realized that language was one of the instruments of female oppression by males.
[…] It was intended to develop the mind” (Henslin 495). Many different factors can influence one’s access to their education including their sex, gender, and social class. Around the world, sex and gender affects different people’s access to education. Sex is the “biological characteristics that distinguish females and males,” whereas gender is “the behaviors and attitudes that a society considers proper for its males and females” (Henslin 296). Typically, women are discriminated against in regard to education due to their perceived roles in society.