Cycle of Socialization

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The cycle of socialization is a process through which social identities are created, and in effect, each individual represents and is affected by their social identity. According to the cycle of socialization, the first stop in the socialization process is outside of one’s control—one is socialized even before they are born. Our social identities are predetermined, and we are born in a world with roles, rules, and assumptions already in place. Our family and role models teach these rules and roles to us, for they are the shapers of expectations, values, and norms. The first step in the cycle of socialization is directly related to mental models. In the beginning of the socialization process, we are taught certain rules and roles to follow. Ultimately, we are taught how to act by our families who raise us, which shapes our mental models. At a young age, my mom dressed me in dresses and put me in dance classes. My girl friends and I were all expected to take dance lessons and to enjoy playing house with each other. My dad taught my brothers when they were young to act tough and to play sports like football and hockey. During my childhood, I never questioned my parents. I enjoyed doing what “girls are supposed to do,” and I felt comfortable doing what all the other girls were doing in my school. I agree that parents are responsible for socializing their children and they have a huge influence on how we act our gender and our social roles. As a result, our mental models, which shape how we act, are created and enforced at a young age. Socialization is reinforced throughout our lifetime not only through our parents and teachers, but also through the messages from institutions and our culture.

In today’s culture, the media...

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... institutions—such as government and large private companies—therefore they are usually the ones practicing institutional discrimination. Structural discrimination has a negative impact on minority groups and is difficult to avoid when dealing with jobs and money issues. Unlike the other two levels, structural discrimination is unintentional and legal. The minority group is the most likely to lose jobs when businesses need to lay off employers, and they are the most likely to not get a loan because they generally have lower incomes. The negative effect of structural discrimination on minority groups degrades both their position in society and their mental and physical health. The reason the lives of minority groups are unhealthier than dominant groups is because of the discriminatory policies—either well intentioned or bad intentioned—that are set in place.

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