Topic 5 - what is the link between socalisation and identity? Flashcards
Introduction?
Each person has a sense of identity, which includes aspects like gender, religion, ethnicity, age, and social position. This identity is shaped through interactions with others and develops during the process of socialization.
Identity, self and others?
Before World War I, Max Weber and George Herbert Mead explored how people develop a sense of meaning in life. Mead argued that people act based on their understanding and the meaning they attach to things, not just logic or rationality. For instance, people may spend large sums on pet care because their pets hold personal meaning, despite having no financial value. This idea led to research on how we form identity and meaning, known as interactionism. Our identity can change depending on social context, as it reflects how others perceive us. For example, we may feel more distinctly Welsh when in England.
Learning gender identity through socalisation?
Gender is a key aspect of identity, influenced by biological sex and cultural expectations known as gender roles. From birth, children are often treated differently based on their sex, with parents preparing for a child by choosing gender-specific clothing, toys, and names.
Sociologists have identified 2 elements of identity
Sociologists identify two elements of identity:
Primary identity: Our personal sense of self.
Secondary identity: The roles we play in society.
We develop our identity in various ways. Others define aspects of our identity, such as how a pupil is excluded from the staff room. Some identities are positive (e.g., manager, doctor), while others can be negative (e.g., disabled or gay individuals may face stigma). Our identity can change depending on context; for instance, we may adopt a student identity at school and a different one with family or friends.
Identity is linked to social roles and can provide meaning, such as wearing specific clothing to signal religious or ethnic identity. Some identities are ascribed (e.g., daughter, brother), while others are achieved (e.g., job roles).
Psychiatrist Sullivan introduced the concept of the significant other, referring to people or groups who influence our sense of self, such as religious leaders shaping the identity of religi
Gender identity?
Farley (1990) noted that in Western cultures, expected male identities include leadership, control of social situations, decision-making, and displaying active, unemotional, and aggressive behaviors.
Expected feminine identity behaviours?
Expected feminine identity behaviors include physical dependency, emotionalism, lack of control, and being passive, caring, and family-oriented.
Family?
Feminist sociologist Anne Oakley argued that children learn expected gender behaviors through primary socialization processes within the family.
Manipulation?
Parents reinforce gender-appropriate behavior and discourage what they consider inappropriate, such as using phrases like “big boys don’t cry.”
Canalisation?
Boys and girls are directed toward gender-appropriate activities, with boys receiving toys for physical activity and girls given dolls to promote nurturing behaviors.
Verbal appellations?
Girls are often called “angels” or “princesses,” while boys are labeled as “monsters” or given aggressive names. Girls are encouraged to take dance classes or help at home, while boys are sent to play or attend football training. Statham (1986) criticized this, arguing that even when parents avoid deliberate gender socialization, strong cultural and social expectations lead children to behave in gendered ways, influenced by secondary socialization.
Media?
Judith Butler (1990) emphasized the powerful role of media in reinforcing gender stereotypes, making gender socialization and behavior hard to avoid. Media often presents unrealistic body types as both ideal and normal, creating pressure to conform. Naomi Wolf (1990) argued that the pursuit of a “perfect” body image is a tool for controlling and exploiting women. Celebrities like Kate Winslet and Brad Pitt have criticized the use of Photoshop to create unnatural images, claiming it contributes to eating disorders and emotional issues, especially among vulnerable young people.
Learning class identity through socalisation?
Social class in sociology refers to groups of people with similar education, income, and occupational backgrounds. In Britain, classes are often categorized as upper, middle, and working class, though these groupings are more complex. The upper class tends to be wealthy and powerful, often owning land and property, with limited numbers and significant political and social influence. Most sociologists focus on two primary class groupings: the middle and working classes.
Middle classes?
The middle class consists of individuals employed in professional jobs, typically with a good income and a high level of education.
Working classes?
The working class includes individuals who have never worked or hold low-wage jobs, often with fewer educational qualifications. They make up the majority of the population.
Education?
Sociologists argue that middle and working class cultures in Britain are distinct, with people taking pride in their social class background. Savage (1992) noted that middle-class lifestyles differ from working-class ones, as they have more disposable income to spend on luxury items, holidays, and leisure. Middle-class children are more likely to attend good schools, go to university, and secure high-paying jobs. Pierre Bourdieu introduced the concept of “cultural capital,” claiming that middle-class children are socialized into the culture of the dominant ruling class, making them more likely to succeed in education, which plays a key role in shaping class identities.
