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Patriarchy And Gender

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Social interactions are essential for human survival. To aid in these interactions, human beings have developed certain norms or codes of behavior which are considered socially acceptable. These dictate the interactions between and within groups and are also passed down through generations. Individuals are expected to behave in consonance with these well-defined codes of conduct. The infant is exposed to the culture he or she is born in and unconsciously assimilates the traditions and mores of society. Families consist of male and female members and society has well defined roles for each. In patriarchy, virtues associated with the masculine are elevated in comparison to those associated with the feminine.
Patriarchy is believed to have originated …show more content…

This may be due to the fact that humans receive gender education right from birth and this gender role socialization continues throughout life.According to Robert J Stoller, “gender is a term that has psychological or cultural rather than biological connotations”(Stoller,7).Sociologists believe that more than even biological traits, conditioning is responsible for gender specific behavior. The acquisition of gender specific behavior is an integral part of who we are, how others respond to us and we in turn respond to them. It is one of the most important aspect of the socialization process. Interestingly, the sexes are called ‘opposite’. Parents play an important part in this process of gender awareness. Right from infancy, boys and girls are taught gender specific behavior. Girls are taught to be obedient, submissive, tolerant and generous. Whereas boys are taught to be aggressive, dominating, adventurous and outspoken. Boys are taught to hide their emotions as it is considered unmanly to cry in public. The tag line of a powerful television advertisement sums it up-‘Boys don’t cry’. Parental influence is the primary source of gender related awareness. Usually, different traits are emphasized for girls and boys. Girls are encouraged to play with dolls as this prepares them for their future role as the nurturer and care giver of the household. Whereas boys are channelized towards games and toys which are more aggressive and also more action packed.Even television programmes, cartoons and children’s books perpetuated gender differences. Adventure stories were the prerogative of male protagonists and girls only provided the background. Thus, the upbringing was related to the gender roles that boys and girls would take up as adults. Boys were trained for roles outside the home and girls for those inside. The belief that a woman acquires her true identity only when she

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