Gender Socialization
In a general sense the term socialization refers to the process whereby an individual learns and acquires the value systems, beliefs, behavioral norms and personality attitudes of a specific culture. How we interact with our environment and other individuals, and how we view ourselves within our immediate context, often reflects the socialization processes that we have experienced. Gender socialization is one aspect of the socialization process in which boys and girls learn about being masculine or feminine in their society. In the U.S. one way in which we experience and express gender is through consumer items. From early ages, girls and boys learn about gender through consumer items such as toys, clothes, and even furniture that is marketed to them and their parents, and which they come to desire.
Some questions to consider:
How do you know which items are intended for girls and which for boys? Are there gender-neutral items or non-gendered items?
What kinds of things do you think clothes and toys teach children about being a boy or a girl, end eventually a man or a woman? For example, think about how the clothes might affect a child’s movements, the messages/images on the packaging or clothing, and how the toys might affect a child’s interests both now and later in life.
What beliefs, values, etc. are boys/girls and men/women supposed to
like/dislike?
Are there any ways in which toys, clothing or other children’s consumer items encourage boys and girls to be similar to one another? Explain.
How do children’s clothing and toys perpetuate or challenge inequality, stereotypes, or other gender-related social phenomenon?
Describe any patterns you observed as well as anything you saw that was unusual or unexpected.
