Explain and briefly evaluate the view that an individual’s identity is created by nature rather than nurture Flashcards
point 1
One view that an individual’s identity is created by nature rather than nurture is that boys and girls are socialized into gender roles through secondary socialization in school at an early age.
example 1
Skelton found in Benwood Primary School that there were various ways in which gender stereotypes were created and maintained in Benwood. Teachers who could not recall a boy’s name would refer to ‘you’ or ‘that boy’, or if it was a girl, ‘darling’ or ‘sweetheart’. Posters and artwork on the walls of the school showed boys being ‘active’ and ‘naughty’ but girls being ‘passive’ and ‘good’. Also, teachers read stories that encouraged boys to be ‘masculine’ heroes. In the school football team boys were taught how to be ‘manly’ and how to use an ‘acceptable’ level of physical violence.
explain 1
This shows that an individual’s identity is created by nature rather than nurture because the gender stereotyping expressed at Benwood would lead to these children’s identity being based around these stereotypes for example at A-Level and consequently future careers. This is evident because Arts and social science subjects are dominated by females whilst the ‘harder’ subjects like mathematics, and IT are dominated by males.
counter 1
However Goldberg argues that males have an inbuilt ‘dominance tendency’ and this is why they inevitably occupy the top roles in society which would mean nurture is in fact the reason for men and women acting differently and not nurture.
point 2
Another view that an individual’s identity is created by nature rather than nurture is that class shapes an individuals identity through the use of activities that socialize them into the values of that class.
example 2
Roberts found that During their socialisation young members of the upper class are introduced to the exclusive social events that provide a distinctive upper class lifestyle. These events include hunting, rowing, sailing and opera. Together, they provide a clear picture of a distinctive upper class lifestyle.
explain 2
this shows that an individuals identity is created by nature rather than nurture as through the peer group young upper class children can be socialized into the closed off lifestyle that resonates throughout the upper class by being involved with their activities that are seen exclusive to themselves.
counter 2
x
point 3
Another view that an individual’s identity is created by nature rather than nurture is that children are socialized into their Ethnic identities at a young age by their parents through rules that they will tend to follow in later life.
example 3
Ghuman outlines some of the socialization practices of the first generation of Asian parents. For example
Children were brought up to be obedient, loyal to and respectful of their elders and community around them, The choice of education and marriage was to be left in the hands of their parents and the role of the mother tongue is seen as crucial in maintaining links between generations and in the transmission of religious values.
explain 3
this shows that an individuals identity is created by nature rather than nurture as due to children being brought up a certain way because of their ethnicity they will have an identity different to those of a different one, it this case Asians may have a more obedient and respectful identity to other ethnicities due to how they were brought up.
counter 3
.
intro
Nature refers to our biological identity which tells us instinctively what to do whereas nurture is when our actions can be seen as the result of our social and cultural environments, there is a heavy debate on which one impacts our identity the most, an identity refers to how we see ourselves in relation to others.
