Assignment 12: Gender as a Social Construction

In our culture, we have a very strict gender dichotomy. At birth you are assigned to be either female or male based on your sex and this is what defines you for the rest of your life. From there on out, girls and boys are socialized to take on the specific gender role that has been assigned. A gender role is a set of behaviors,attitudes, and personality characteristics  expected and encouraged of a person based on his or her sex. Society expects different attitudes and behaviors from boys and girls. Girls are socialized to be nurturing, sweet, wear dresses, and love dolls, while boys are socialized to be adventurous, independent, and love trucks and sports. Now, this is obviously not true for every child, but take a second and think about why you like the things you like, why you act the way you act, and how you have become the person you are today. These attitudes and behaviors are deeply ingrained into every aspect of out society on an institutional level.

Family is, typically, the first social institution to influence gender roles. Your parents or guardians are the ones that buy your toys, decide what you wear, and how you will be raised. Often, without even realizing it, parents treat girls and boys very differently. According to Newman, "In a study, 30 first time parents were asked to describe their infants at less than 24 years old. They frequently resorted to common stereotypes. Those with daughters described them as "tiny," "soft," "fine featured," and "delicate." Sons were seen as "strong," "alert," "hardy," and "coordinated" (Newman 148). Also, children's toys are very gender specific. For example, girls are often given baby dolls, kitchen sets, jewelry, princess dresses, nail polish, make up kits, etc. These types of toys socialize girls to be nurturing, learn domestic duties, and care about how they look. 


Another social institution that influences they way genders are perceive is school. This is where girls and boy come together, bringing with them the beliefs, roles, attitudes and behaviors they have been taught at home- Therefore reinforcing gender stereotypes among themselves. For example, a little boy I nanny during the summers used to love to paint his nails with his big sister until he started kindergarten. He quickly learned from his friends that "painting your nails is something only girls do." He was embarrassed and refused to paint his nails ever again, making sure that both his sister and I knew that "only girls do that." This is the way we learn what are perceived as “right” and “wrong” gender roles  We are positively reinforced when we do things that we are supposed to do, and punished, embarrassed, and shamed when we do something that goes against the norm. 



In addition to family, friends, and education, media plays a crucial role in the way children are taught to act. Commercials clearly target genders in very different ways. Commercials for "boy" games and toys generally emphasize action, creativity, building, control, and power, while commercials for "girl" games and toys emphasize beauty, homemaking, appearance and popularity. These messages are very manipulative, and have great impact on self-concept and self-image. Often, these messages are subliminal and absorbed without even knowing it.  The video below illustrates how commercials help create and reinforce gender stereotypes.

Like race, these are arbitrary rules that we have made up over time and have become the realities that shape the way people are perceived and valued.These messages are fed to us through almost every institution, group, and organization in our culture, and they are massive forces behind why we do the things we do. Males and females have diverging paths from day one that lead us towards the roles we are supposed to play in society. Unfortunately, the gender norms that are reinforced to do not always teach and allow equal opportunities for men and women.These types of  subtle messages are the basis for gender inequalities in our society, making men the dominant and superior gender and women the inferior, and submissive gender. Many believe that we have reached equality through the feminist movement, which has allowed women to enter into the paid work field and vote. These are wonderful things, and there is no doubt we have made significant progress in overcoming sexism, but there is still a very long road ahead of us.

The objectification and subordination of women by men permeates the things that many of us find ourselves immersed in on a daily basis.You can find gender inequality in virtually every aspect of our culture. It is depicted in our media, families, religious institutions, educational systems, the work place, and in our laws. The scary thing is that most of these messages about gender are so subtle that most do not even notice. As illustrated above, these ideas are embedded in us from the time we are infants, and dictate the choices we make and the people we become. These issues are far beyond our immediate control- but this does not mean we should stop fighting for equal rights and educating others of the hidden sexism within the ways we operate as a society.