Gender Socialisation and Education Flashcards
How do we see two sides of socialisation?
Biology: Children appear to enter the world genetically prepared to interact with others, predisposed with certain behavioural tendencies
Social factors: social experiences influence biological characteristics and capabilities
In this context, what is socialisation?
The way that individuals come to develop an idea of their roles within a society. OR: Ways we learn to become a member of a group, including very large group we call humanity
Why does humans behave differently?
Human behaviours and traits reflect adaptions that allowed for the survival of the species, which interacted with an often dangerous and unsure environment
How does animals and humans differ in terms of socialisation?
Humans have to gain social experience and learn many cultural things to survice, animals do not
How is socialisation needed for participation in society?
because it is a process of social interaction during which people take over the knowledge, values, attitudes, and behaviours necessary for effective participation
What do we talk about when we talk about gender socialisation?
The process through which individuals learn the gender norms of their society and come to develop an internal gender identity
How is socialisation a lifelong process?
We have primary and secondary socialisation
What is primary socialisation?
The initial process of learning the ways of a society or groups that occurs in infancy and childhood, and is transmitted through the primary groups to which we belong. The individual becomes an active member of society. An objective social structure and world is constructed
What is secondary socialisation?
The learning process that takes place each time we join one of few secondary groups. It is the acquisition of a specific, knowledge-driven role.. it is poorly explained :)
What can be agents of socialisation?
Family, school, clubs, work, media, ethnic background, government, religion peers
What are the 4 theories of gender socialisation?
- Social Learning Theory
- Cognitive-Development Theory
- Gender Schema Theory
- Psychoanalytic Theory
What is Social Learning Theory?
We learn the behaviour through the processes of rewards, reinforcements, and punishment. It is further believed that a child is rewarded for behaving in a gender-specific manner that corresponds to their sex and is punished if they behave differently
What do we mean by sex-typed behaviours?
behaviours that are more likely and therefore considered mor acceptable when performed by an individual of one sex, but less expected and therefore seen as inappropriate when performed by the other sex
Within the Social Learning Theory, we find “latent learning”. What is this?
Passive simulation and modelling regardless of whether an award is recieved or punished
How is identification with others important in Social Learning Theory?
There is the idea that one identify with same-sex individuals. Therefore, they have a stronger connection with dad or mother. There is also more focus on same-sex peers
Within Social Learning Theory, who are the most important agent of socialisation?
Family. They present the first pattern of sexuality, which teaches to do gender “properly”. They set expectations based on sex
How do we see gender socialisation in schools?
Most teachers unconsciously discriminate girls by paying more attention to boys, even if they seem to be treated in exactly the same way
In Social Learning Theory, what are the consequences?
Children acquire gender stereotypical character traits. Girls and boys choose gender-stereotyped occupations
What is some criticism for Social Learning Theory?
Empirical research shows that children do not necessarily choose for modelling and identification of same-sex individuals. Also, children are treated as passive adopters of cultural ideas about gender and gender-specific behaviour
What is the Cognitive-Development Theory?
We talk aout gender typing, where children identify behaviours that are seen as appriopriate for one sex or gender but not the other. Furthermore, children acquire gender identity and learn to gender-type as they progress through development stages
How does Cognitive-Development distinquish itself from Social Learning Theory?
Children develop an understanding of gender, to so actively socialising themselves rather than serving as passive objects of socialisation
What happens to children at the age of 7, in the Cognitive-Development Theory perspective?
They reach the final stage of understanding sex/sexuality, and understand the limits based on specific social rules
What is gender constancy, in Cognitive-Development Theory?
Changing the outward physical appearance of a person does not change their underlying sex category
What is gender congruency, in Cognitive-Development Theory?
Children do not become fully sex-typed until they have achieved the final stage of gender constancy at around 7
What is some criticism for Cognitive-Development Theory?
Results show that children start to demonstrate priorities for objects or activities expressing gender/sexuality at 3 years old
