Gender Socialization
Socialization occurs throughout lifetime and based on my experience the primary agents of socialization includes family, media, and peers. In that, these agents tend to communicate certain perception regarding genders thus leading to stereotyping (Miller 3). The beliefs, perceptions that I learned from these agents is that each gender is competent for certain activities and role and not for others. Growing up toys selecting by family members was made based on our gender which created the perception that boys and girls are fully different in regard to their roles and abilities. In that boys would always be associated with more masculine roles such as protecting their sisters who are widely considered to be weak. These beliefs have affected me significantly in regard to how a view certain career roles.
In my opinion, I believe that the way that the existing cultures socialize both girls and boys is negative. In that, this culture tends to emphasize that boys should be less emotional and stronger than girls thus shaping their perception that leads to some psychological issues (Miller 3). In that, men tend not to express their issues which might pile and affect their health while female settles for roles that are perceived to be female dominated just because they believe that they are different from boys (Miller 4). The best way to socialize a child as a parent is not to create ideas in them but allow them to make their own choices on what they desire and what to follow in general. I would do it in a different way from the way that I was raised for instance by allowing them to select toys for themselves without changing their perception. This would help them in focusing on positive perceptions that they are all equal regardless of their gender.
Work Cited
Miller, Cain Claire. Boys and Girls, Constrained by Toys and Costumes. 2015. New York Times.
Upworthy. Kids' assumptions toward gender roles are turned around at career day in school. 2016. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Aweo-74kY&feature=youtu.be
