Socialization is the informal and subtle process through which we learn the norms, roles, values, and expectations of our society. (L. Berger and Luckman 2002) Gender is a specific set of behaviours that is produced in specific social situations, and gender socialization, in particular, pays specific attention to what is expected of us as women and men, and this process starts from childhood onwards. Modern-day sororities –social organizations that have historically existed for voluntary or charitable activities-- create a world where college women learn what it is to be “a woman” in society. This essay examines the role college sororities play in gender socialization, by examining the role of the sorority’s Code of Standards on social expectations, the relationship and power dynamics between sorority …show more content…
Polly opens most emails with physical compliments and flattery, grabbing the sorority sisters’ attention, such as “Hello pretty ladies!”. Linguist Janie Rees-Miller argues that these kinds of compliments, disconnected from a specific task, function as a form of small talk that establishes social relationships and solidarity among the group based on the shared values of physical appearance. Polly’s email also incorporates her trademark sense of humour, where she alters the spelling of a word so that the audience will read it in a certain tone, and inserts pictures or jokes that feel random from the central messages of the text. For instance, she says, “… AAAAAAAND in honour of our snow day, I have attached a picture of a Corgi doing a happy dance”. These instances show how Polly tries to operate between two roles: her position as a leader, and as a likeable friend, thus exemplifying how women are socialized to walk the fine line between assertive and likeable even when they hold a leadership position. (Kurtyka
The critical rank for reducing gender inequalities should be education, labor force participation, and lastly, wages. There are obvious differences between men and women whether it’s anatomically, financially, and so forth. The gender inequalities women face compared to men is alarming and saddening. Gender stereotypes reinforce gender inequalities because stereotypes can often be internalized which results in biases against either sex. These biases against a person can result in negative results. Gender inequality has been within our society for a long time especially amongst women.
Joining fraternities and sororities has been a long tradition among many college and university students within the United States. As the number of students entering colleges and universities grow, the influence and pressure to join fraternities and sororities grow as well. According to a research project conducted by Dr. Gary D. Malaney, associate professor of education and director of student affairs at the University of Massachusetts, “58.6% [of 413 students surveyed] reported having at least a few friends who belong to the Greek Area” (Malaney 2). However, the Kappa Sigma fraternity at the University of Miami in February 2004 was found at fault for the death of Chad Meredith for “attempting a drunken early-morning swim across Lake Osceola during a hurricane as part of a fraternity-initiation stunt” (Sileo 1). In August of 2004, the Psi Epsilon Chi chapter from the State University of New York was found guilty for the death of Walter Dean Jennings for “acute water intoxication during a pledge ceremony in which he was forced to drink alcohol and ingest enough water to make his lungs collapse” (Sileo 1). If fraternities and sororities are as positive as its members present them to be, why are fraternities and sororities mandating horrible things to innocent students? The truth is that many students know that fraternities and sororities are the wrong choice for the college and university atmosphere; however, they decline to reveal the truth in order to cover up this escape route from academics to civil disobedience.
In our current culture, there is a huge difference between what is considered to be for girls or boys. From birth, children are told what colors and styles of clothing they wear, what toys they should play with, and how they should act. Often, girls are told they cannot play with toys considered to be for boys and boys are told they are not allowed to play with toys considered to be for girls. Children who do decide they want to play with the toys not traditionally for their gender are often scolded by family members, pushing the children back to their gender-specific toys. Gender socialization starts at birth and continues from adolescence, to adulthood, causing specific and detrimental differences
In the movie “The House Bunny” a former playboy bunny turns the “unpopular sorority into the stereotypical party girls. The movie “Sorority Boys” also portrays that sorority sisters are snobby girls. “Most Americans, even those non-Greeks who have attended American colleges with Greek systems, know little about the inner workings of these groups—except perhaps for what has been portrayed in movies.” (DeSantis) One could go their whole life and always think that there is nothing more to sororities than partying, because the closest they have gotten to a sorority is through the
The mission of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated is to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, promote unity and genuine friendships among college women, aid in issues concerning girls and women in order to come up with solutions to eliminate or ease the circumstances they may face, maintain an ongoing interest in college life, while also being of service to all mankind. This sorority has not only empowered women to help others, but it
“Hey, are you going to the party tonight?” you hear them ask you. As you agree, you also wonder what people’s first impression of you will be when they see you walk in the door at that frat house party everyone seems to be going to. Women have gone into a state of mind that in order to fit in, they have to look and dress a certain way to impress at these college parties. But these never-ending expectations held against women is not an issue that has recently developed throughout time as it dates back to civilization.
Misogyny is not the result of the physical state of womanhood; it is the product of the conventions that a society has established for how a woman should compose herself (Rey). These societal rules were created with the intent of perpetuating a patriarchal system in which women cannot express themselves freely. Misogyny is an attempt at enforcing these rules, and misogynistic behaviors can be performed by anyone. While The Gender Knot discusses how the limitation of female sexual expression and the enforcement of gender roles are forms of misogyny, “Girl” and “Mona Lisa Smile” indicate how these practices affect women.
When you mention gender roles in society the first thing that comes to mind usually are stereotypes, or the set labels that society has established on how everyone acts based on the different biological, social, and cultural categories they fit into. Throughout history these stereotypes that pertain to genders roles in society have been proven true. Gender roles refer to a behavioral and social norms that are widely accepted for people of a certain sex. In this report I will discussing the gender roles of the two most recognized types of gender, man and woman, from the perspective of a man and a woman who have lived 65+ years. I will also discuss how those roles have influenced society and how they have changed gradually over the years.
Day in and day out we hear about high school and college students wanting to pursue a sorority and/or a fraternity based on the stereotypes these organizations uphold, well I chose to differ. I told myself if I ever decided to become a member of a sorority it would be based solely on their ethical standards, history, and values they are founded upon. Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated consists of ladies of distinction and exemplary character who excel in scholarship, leadership, and service, which are qualities I have chosen to uphold. From my perspective, I encourage myself to maintain a respectable appearance and reputation which doing so inspires me to embrace my self-concept; which helps me confidently excel academically and professionally as a “lady of distinction” and “exemplary character.” Most importantly, I continuously remain involved in community service, being involved allows me the opportunity to learn and understand the lives and circumstances of others by opening my mind, heart, and soul. Overall these qualities strengthen my passion to be a member of the prestigious Alp...
Before the eighteenth century, one would not even know what a sorority was; let alone what a sorority meant to the community. Today, everyone is familiar what sorority mean and what they accomplish for the community. The American Heritage Student Dictionary’s definition of sorority is “a chiefly social organization of women students at a college or university; an association of women” (882). The dictionary’s definition gives the impression of a general sorority. Lawrence Ross defines sorority as more than the wearing of letters, or...
Sexual violence is sometimes thought of as a natural part of life. That men have an inherit biological trait that predisposes them to violence and that it cannot be helped. The famous quote is “boys will be boys” meaning that men have no control over their actions and that if they sexual assault someone, that it is just human nature. This is in fact false. There is nothing in the biological makeup of males that can explain away sexual violence. It is a learned cultural behavior generated by gender norms and the medias perpetuation of sexual violence.
Gender Socialization Part II: Annotated Bibliography on Annotated Bibliography on Masculinity, LBGT as other, and Rape Culture
Gender role socialization has influenced my life by how my parents run our family. It has influenced my occupational goals by showing me that both the spouses should work to meet the family needs. My dad is an accountant but that can’t cover all the bills we have so my mom is a weekend waitress and she had a job at Gordmans before it closed. Without both of my parents working we would not have all our necessities. Once I finish up my internship this summer I will find a full-time job as either a social worker or a counselor and when I find the “right one” to marry I will continue to work as well as my husband.
Social Construction of Gender is a process, stratification system and structure. The day to day interactions emphasize gender as opposites. Take for instance, conversations, formalities of daily life, sayings, and so on. The social construction of gender is created through social interaction – through the things we do and say with other people. This means that gender it is not a fixed or inherent fact, but instead it varies across time and place.
As you know I am a very busy college student with classes, extra circulars, homework, friends, and a boyfriend. This week though in my gender and society class we talked about primary and secondary groups. We also talked about doing gender and how gender structures interactions. In the next few days I will be looking and analyzing how these things work in my every day life. But for today I want to explain these few things and how they work or are looked at in society.