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Learning Gender & Sexuality

Gender Socialization  The process through which we learn how

the expectations for behavior and appearance associated with recognized sex categories.

 Continues throughout our lives

Gender Identity & Socialization Most social institutions rest on the

gender binary through which all children are assumed to be  either male or female  fixed in their sex/gender category  heterosexual

Where/From Whom Do We Learn about Gender, Gender Norms, etc?

1. Parents and family 2. Peer groups 3. Schools 4. Religious institutions, when applicable 5. The state 6. The media 7. Consumer products/markets (more on that in

two weeks!)

Parents & Family  Especially important in early childhood  Research shows that Parents interact with children very

differently based on gender, even in infancy Parents—especially fathers—endorse gender

non-normative behavior in daughters and penalize it in sons

Parents & Family: Chores  Boys ages 15 to 19 do about half an hour of

housework a day, and girls about 45 minutes.  One study of compensation for chores found

boys earned twice what girls did for doing chores — an average of $13.80 a week for boys, compared with girls’ $6.71.

Google, Is My Son A Genius?  For every 10 Google inquiries about sons

being overweight, there are 17 about daughters—although boys are 9% more likely to be overweight than girls

 For every 10 Google inquiries about daughters being gifted, there are 25 about sons— although girls are 11% more likely to be in gifted programs

Parental Google Inquiries Percent more inquiries

about BOYS Is My Child …. Percent more inquiries

about GIRLS

123 A genius?

78 Intelligent?

52 Stupid?

46 Behind?

32 A leader?

21 Happy?

Depressed? 1

Attractive/Beautiful? 56

Ugly? 160

Data from Stevens-Davidowitz, 2014

Peer Groups  Once kids reach school age, peer groups (who

usually center on school) become as or even more important than families in shaping children’s beliefs and values, including about gender

 Gender polarization exacerbated by families & schools encouraging gender segregation through peer groups

Schools  Schools emphasize the gender binary through

routine sex segregation  The hidden curriculum contains knowledge

and ideas about gender and sexuality

Religion/Religious Institutions  For those affiliated with them, can be

powerful sources of ideas about gender and sexuality

 World’s largest religions largely emphasize Binary gender difference Compulsory heterosexuality Women’s submission to men Men’s unique relationship to god(s)

Barrett-Fox #35 “Constraints and Freedom in Conservative Christian Women’s Lives”

 Quiverfull: families who believe any form of birth control is a sin

 Emphasizes gender complementarianism (see page 231)

 Girls and women are socialized to Dress femininely and modestly Be moral guards of men’s sexuality To respect men and accept their authority Never use birth control and never to abort