Gender Socialization In The Media

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Many thoughts ran through my head as I sat in my room crying wondering why I couldn’t go out and play boxing with the boys that day. I called out to my mom hoping she would give me a clear answer, but the only thing I got was “stay in and play with your dolls honey”. I believe that was the moment when Gender socialization affected me. Gender Socialization is the process of learning the social expectations and attitudes with one’s sex. Gender socialization is how we learn to act like girls and act like boys. Gender Socialization seems like such a simple and harmless word, but once you uncover its meaning it can be harmful. Gender Socialization is one of the reasons why as a kid if I wanted to go play in mud with my brothers I couldn’t. But …show more content…

Gender socialization in the media is seen all over the world. Women are seen supporting cooking, girls are seen playing dolls whereas the boys are seen working and playing with toy guns. Gender socialization teachers us that girls are supposed to love to cook, play with dolls, and clean where on the other hand guys are supposed to work, be rough and play with toy guns. I remember in middle school I use to watch my brother’s football practice and always thought I could do that. So one day I asked if I could come and play the coach said “Honey you’ll get killed out there girls aren’t supposed to play football” and the very next day the cheer coach asked me to join the team. Due to the simple fact that I was a girl I had to automatically want to cheer and couldn’t be a part of something so violent. That being said the reason why I couldn’t join the team was solely because of gender socialization. It teachers us that us girls are supposed to be the ones cheering on the boys again we are being elegant we aren’t supposed to be running around in the grass tackling people. Gender socialization teaches us that at a very young age girls aren’t supposed to be seen playing contact sports that’s why at a young girls are put in gymnastics and cheerleading. In those sports we prance around and look graceful. While on the other hand the boys are put into hockey and football where they get dirty, hurt and play

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