Gender-role resocialisation

Question 1

GENDER-ROLE SOCIALISATION – Ann Oakley (1982) (Liberal Feminist)

What are the four processes of how we are socialised into gender roles?

Answer 1

1. Manipulation
2. Canalisation
3. Verbal Appellations
4. Domestic Activities

Question 2

Define Ann Oakley’s Gender-Role process of Manipulation.

Answer 2

Manipulation: Boys and girls are ‘encouraged’ to adopt behaviours regarded as appropriate for their gender.

Question 3

Define Ann Oakley’s Gender-Role process of Canalisation.

Answer 3

Canalisation: Boys and girls are ‘directed’ towards different toys and games, such as construction, science, football, technology for boys – which are regarded as part of a normal ‘masculine domain/environment’. Girls are directed to sewing machines, dolls, cookers, prams and domestic technology like microwaves and vacuum cleaners – developing the skills reflected in their mother’s traditional role in the kitchen and as a nurturer. When playing boys and girls are learning their role by mimicking different adult roles (doctors and nurses) and clothing (girls-bright, boys-practical).

Question 4

Define Ann Oakley’s Gender-Role process of Verbal Appellations.

Answer 4

Verbal Appellations: Boys and girls are exposed to different language, praised differently using different language (“brave boy”, “sweet girl”) – language differences are seen as appropriate for their gender.

Question 5

Define Ann Oakley’s Gender-Role process of Domestic Activities.

Answer 5

Domestic Activities: Imitation of role models can lead expose boys and girls to the different roles that their mother and father perform. Imitation of these roles usually takes place with boys imitating their fathers and girls imitating their mothers. This therefore leads to differences in the learning of the activities that are appropriate for each gender. This leads girls to be engaged more in domestic activities and boys with outdoors activities.