Social Role Theory Essay
analytical Essay
1317 words
Imagine this, a mother lets her child pick a toy from the toy aisle. He or she gazes at the many types of toys that stand in front of him or her. So many choices, but only one can be bought. Many characteristics of the toys are taken under consideration in the decision process. The Sharp crisp edges of the box, the assortment of colors, the font of the toy’s name on the box, and even the position of the toy in the aisle helps the child decide on which toy is best. However, not all decisions are made by just looking at how good the toy looks. Children are good for observing their surroundings and things that are going on in the world. In the textbook “The Science of Psychology” by Laura A. King, one of the chapters described the stages of human …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Explains that children are good for observing their surroundings and things going on in the world. cognitive development is the construction of thought processes, problem solving, and decision-making from childhood to adulthood.
- Analyzes how toys "r" us stores are separated by gender. barbie, g.i. joe, wwe wrestlers, and legos occupy the aisles.
- Explains that gender stereotypes give children information about how members of each sex should look, act and think according to their gender cultures.
- Explains that race plays a big part in the decision-making process when people think of toys. mamie katherine phipps clark did research called "the development of consciousness in negro pre-school children."
- Explains that cultural influence has a major impact on the decision process. children learn gender and social-role identities through their environment and parents.
In a research article called “The Influence of Gender and Ethnicity on Children’s Inferences About Toy Choice” a statement was said that these roles provide children with information about how members of each sex should look, act and think according to their gender cultures (Lam, Leman 2003). The men work and support their family financially. The women take care of the house and the children. In “The Science of Psychology”, a theory was expressed in one of the chapters. The social role theory is the theory that acknowledges that there are physical differences between sexes, and that led men and women to perform different tasks (King 2014). Children pick up on these so-called roles and acted upon them. In a YouTube channel named Advert Enticement, various interviews were done with children about their views on two different dolls. One doll was a girl and one doll was a boy. Many questions were asked about the gender roles. Questions like ‘Which doll likes to clean the house’, ‘which doll goes to work and plays the bills’, and ‘Which doll takes care of the babies’ were answered. At the end of the interview it was clear that children believe that men and women have completely different tastes. Men are more masculine, than women. So, question was asked which side of the toy store is girls and which side is boys? The side with the darker colors and physical toys like action figures and toy …show more content…
At a young age, children rely on observational learning to acquire skills. This learning style is works by observing and replication another person’s behavior (King, 2014). Much of the skills a child learns are from their parents. In a research article called “Parental Toy Choice Stereotyping and its Effects on Child Toy Preference and Sex-Role Typing” it was said that, “toys are designed and made to appeal to both children and their parents” (Peretti, Sydney 1984). During infancy, it is up to the parent to pick the toys, this process conditions on gender and social-role identities. The views of the parent pass on to the child, which affects the type of toy they
Related
- argumentative
- analytical
- explanatory
- Examining Gender Socialization through Toysargumentative essayGender Socialization plays a big part in a child’s life in shaping their femininty and masculinity. Every child is brought with to have played with at least one toy to have called their own. Now, the purpose of the research that has been conducted is to take a further look into how toys that is sold through stores and played by children. This will then give hindsight as to how what is considered the gender norm has a part in gender role stereotyping and the affect these toys have on children view of gender characteristics.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that gender socialization shapes a child's femininty and masculinity. the purpose of the research is to look into how toys that are sold through stores and played by children affect gender role stereotyping.
- Explains that the research was conducted at the wal-mart supercenter in pembroke pines, florida. it was done at approximately 6:45 pm and ended at 8:12pm.
- Explains the types of toys that were found on the boys aisles were mostly a combination of the following: seventy-five weapons, 164 superhero dolls/ muscular action figures and thirty-nine blue collar work.
- Explains that when children are engaged and playing with toys they are experiencing emotions of happiness, excitation, anger, shocked and fear. the attitudes associated with the toys are loving, sharing, malicious, hostility, cheerful, aggressiveness, intrigued, haughty, confident, earnest, superiority and quizitive.
- Explains that the girls and the types of toys that were found on their aisles were mostly a combination of the following: eighty-two baby dolls, 278 "barbie" type dollies, six-teen weapons
- Explains that when children (girls in particular) are engaged and playing with these toys they are experiencing emotions of happiness, excitation, enjoyment, anger, seriousness and shock.
- Explains that there is a great barrier between what is taught to be the gender norms for boys and girls. boys are expected to walk more dramatically, be louder, dirtier, and find the jobs that will give them more money.
- Analyzes how boys play louder, rougher and dirtier with trucks, fast cars, legos, and action figures, while girls play proper and clean with kitchen sets, clothing, dolls and barbies.
- Explains that boys play with high demand fire trucks, superhero dolls/ muscular action figures and weapons toys. girls make the supper, get the baby cleaned and fed, and maybe work as a housewife, nurse or chef.
- Argues that society promotes a "beauty myth" that is damaging to both men and women. boys are expected to be independent, assertive, and competitive, while girls are more passive, sensitive and supportive.
- Argues that girls don't have to worry about becoming the bread winner, lifting heavy objects, being stuck on the side of the road, or even opening some doors, while boys get the benefit of not worrying about cooking, cleaning, losing their job because of creating a family.
- Suggests that children should be exposed to non-gender-specific toys, such as superman and wonder women, to help eliminate sexism.
- Proposes a solution to solve gender inequalities by eliminating the color distinctions between girls and boys, and having both genders on the boxes.
- Concludes that parents should encourage gender-neutral and cross-gender play in children at an early age to prevent children from living by stereotypes portrayed through toys.
1393 wordsRead More - Gender Roles Of Gender And Gender In Walmartanalytical essayThat is, boys will customarily receive blue clothing or toys while pink clothing or toys will be for girls. “Children‘s toys and games are also differentiated on the basis of sex” (Diekman and Murnen 2004; Seccombe p.99). Through these toys or playing with these toys, boys and girls would eventually distinguish the differences between male and female; also, may strengthen, and perpetuate the traditional gender stereotypes. For instance, boys or men are expected to act and behave in ways that have been considered masculine or associated with masculinity (Seccombe p.104); “men are often assumed to be more aggressive, sexual, unemotional, rational, and task oriented than women” (Seccombe p.93); and thus, action figures, such as Superman, WWE wrestling toys, and Hulk are made for boys to play with. While girls or women’s roles are associated with femininity (Seccombe p.104); “women are assumed to be more nurturing, passive, and dependent” (Seccombe p.93); and so, cooking and baking set and baby dolls with bottle feeding and diapering set are made for girls, so, they could apply their nurturing and culinary skills when they get older and mainly do household chores. Personally, I believe these toys have both negative and positive influence on children’s socialization. For instance, playing with toy guns or military toy set with a knife may lead to early exposure to violence and aggression. However, some toys, such as Lego building set and blocks, arts and crafts have a powerful and influential influence on children’s thinking and
In this essay, the author
- Explains that walmart is one of the well-known children's toy stores in the united states and visited the store nearby their house on davis street in san leandro.
- Analyzes walmart's "girls" and "boys'" toy aisles, which have blue background dividers and blue and green packaging.
- Opines that toys have both negative and positive influence on children's socialization.
705 wordsRead More - Stereotypes In Jean Piaget's Stages Of Cognitive Developmentanalytical essayFrancis’s study analyzes three to five-year-old preschool students as well as their parents about their views about toys and viewing materials based on gender. The study showed that parental beliefs shaped their child 's opinions of gender roles based on the toys they played with. The parent 's idea of what is female and what is male is transferred onto the toys their child plays with which in terms developed their child 's stereotype of what is male and female based on their toy selection and color. In the article “How do today 's children play and with which toys?”, by Klemenovic reference that a child 's view on gender stereotypes is developed by their parents who train them on how to use the toys. Klemenovic (2014) states "Adults start training in the first months of a child 's life because knowledge of objects is the outcome of other people 's behavior towards us" (Klemenovic, 2014, p. 184). Young children’s development of gender stereotypes is largely influenced by his or her parent’s actions and view on what they consider male or female. A parent’s color preference and toy selection can influence a child’s gender bias or association to a specific
In this essay, the author
- Explains jean piaget's stages of cognitive development, which are sensory motor, pre-operational, concrete- operational, and formal operations. the second stage develops stereotypes associated with gender roles and views of how the world works around them.
- Analyzes how becky francis' article "gender, toys and learning" explains that a child's development of gender stereotypes is influenced by his or her parents' actions and views on what they consider male or female.
- Explains lobue & deloache's suggestion that gender stereotypes form by parents stereotypically dressing their male or female child in blue or pick. by dressing infants and toddlers in these specific colors, the child develops a predilection for the color.
- Explains how a study followed 355 three-year-old students and their parents to examine implicit and explicit gender stereotypes associated with mother's and father' s views.
- Explains that freeman's article showed that parents, teachers, and peers were more critical of boys who played with or with female type toys or games.
764 wordsRead More - Stereotypes in Early Gender Socializationexplanatory essayWood, E. (2002). The impact of parenting experience on gender stereotyped toy play of children. Sex Roles, 47, 39-50.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that gender socialization is the process of learning what it means to be a male or female in the society, in which gender stereotypes and bias are usually involved.
- Explains that family influences children's gender socialization. parents dress infants differently based on gender stereotypes.
- Explains that the next environment children enter is education, where a conscious socialization is happening.
- Explains that peer relationships are important in the development of children's self-concept, as they influence their view on the roles of males and females in society.
- Explains that children learn gender roles through different media, such as educational books, picture books and animated cartoons.
- Concludes that stereotyped and biased gender socialization on children can cause bullying among peers. this bullying is not uncommon around the world and is due to stereotypes and bias.
- Explains that a boy aged 11 attempts suicide after being bullied for liking my little pony. campenni, c., 1999. gender stereotyping of children's toys: a comparison of parents and non parents.
- Explains that gender role stereotypes, expectancy effects, and parents' socialization of gender differences in children's television advertising.
- Cites rubin, j. p., witt, s. d. and wood, e.
1370 wordsRead More - Effects Of Gender Inequality Essayanalytical essayParents do all these things while their children play with their gender-appropriate toys. Gender norms in the home can be shown in “the example of which types of toys parents typically give to their children,’feminine’ toys such as dolls often reinforce interaction, nurturing, and closeness,’masculine’ toys such as cars or fake guns often reinforce independence, competitiveness, and aggression” (Gender Inequality). By instilling these gender norms in young children, kids learn what kind of toys they are expected to play with. These roles are the first step to noticing the distinct difference between the two genders.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that school dress codes perpetuate self-consciousness, sexual objectification of women, and gender inequality.
- Explains that males and females are not treated equally in the film industry. angelina jolie earns approximately the same salary as denzel washington and liam neeson.
- Explains that although gender inequality is rampant in the film industry, the world of business in general is also inundated with unequal treatment of women.
- Recommends that parents and guardians should let their kids play with toys that make them happy rather than just the ones that seem gender appropriate.
- Argues that gender equality in schools promotes a healthy learning environment that focuses on education rather than dress code.
- Analyzes the effects of gender inequality in homes, schools, businesses, media, and society in general.
- Opines that there is a social, moral, and ethical responsibility to promote gender equality in the film industry.
- Analyzes how school dress codes shame girls and perpetuate rape culture. ellis-petersen, hannah.
- Explains that "feminist club releases dress code survey feedback with alarming results". the sydney morning herald.
- Explains that "how to end gender inequality at home". everyday life - global post.
1837 wordsRead More - Young children are typically raised around specific sex-types objects and activities. This includes the toys that that are given, activities that they are encouraged to participate in, and the gender-based roles that they are subjected to from a young age. Parents are more likely to introduce their daughters into the world of femininity through an abundance of pink colored clothes and objects, Barbie dolls, and domestic chores such as cooking and doing laundry (Witt par. 9). Contrarily, boys are typically exposed to the male world through action figures, sports, the color blue, and maintenance-based chores such as mowing the lawn and repairing various things around the house (Witt par. 9). As a result, young children begin to link different occupations with a certain gender thus narrowing their decisions relating to their career goals in the future. This separation of options also creates a suppresses the child from doing something that is viewed as ‘different’ from what they were exposed to. Gender socialization stemming from early childhood shapes the child and progressively shoves them into a small box of opportunities and choices relating to how they should live their
In this essay, the author
- Opines that gender socialization is the foundation of how children are brought up and the primary reason for how boys and girls view the world in different ways.
- Explains that children are socialized differently through early childhood. they are exposed to gender-based activities, such as barbie dolls, action figures, sports, and maintenance-related chores.
- Analyzes how the socialization of young boys and girls creates a divide in the aspect of how children are brought up and expected to behave.
- Explains that there are still debating points stating that gender socialization doesn't occur or doesn’t pose a problem, which can be refuted using multiple examples that trace back to one main topic: sexism.
- Argues that gender socialization has been the center-point for flaws in modern-day society. socializing body's and girls not only heightens the expectations of others but also increases individuals harshness towards themselves.
707 wordsRead More - Gender Recognition Essayargumentative essay“Knowledge about one’s own sex and the sex of others may influence behavior” (Campbell, 8). Some scientist have concluded that children begin to “categorize themselves and objects and characteristics to girl or boy within their first 24 months of life” (Freeman, 357). This is when the child will start distinguishing what is similar or different from them and the concept of “‘mine’ and ‘not yours’” comes into play (Levine, 456). After this has developed, toddlers will begin to expand their gender-specific play preferences within the first 36 months of their lives. This shows that a complicated and fully developed mind is not necessary to obtain an understanding of the social structure of one’s society. “Both gender identity and sex differences in behavior broadly emerge in the first three to four years of life” (Campbell, 1). This means that by age three, children already have already confined themselves to the limited and rigid restrictions of their gender. The effects manifest in various ways depending on the child.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that gender recognition is one of the first cognitive developments in a toddler and the effects it has on developing social lives.
- Concludes that children begin to categorize themselves and objects and characteristics to girl or boy within their first 24 months of life.
- Explains that color is the most influential part of a young child's life. it is also the first separation of gender infants will experience. some researchers suggest that the color assignment has created "a preference for these familiar colours as they grow older."
- Argues that color preference is biological, but there is a large number of research that proves otherwise.
- Explains the shift in gender-specific toys for girls in the past 50 years. girls are more likely to be encouraged to do things that were once considered masculine.
- Concludes that the older the children were, the more interactions they had with more adults and children due to their schooling age.
- Explains that children's literature is how they learn values, morals, and some of the processes of life. companies have found very gender-based ways to capitalize on the developing gender understanding of children.
- Argues that the system of gender marketing will not be changed until the idea of 'gender confinement' is removed from society.
1355 wordsRead More - Gender Stereotype: Gender in The Toy Storeanalytical essayIn order to fully comprehend the how gender stereotypes perpetuate children’s toys, one must understand gender socialization. According to Santrock, the term gender refers to the, “characteristics of people as males and females” (p.163). An individual is certainly not brought into the world with pre-existing knowledge of the world. However, what is certain is the belief that the individual has regarding him- or herself and life stems from socialization—the development of gender through social mechanisms. For instance, when a baby is brought into this world, his or her first encounter to gender socialization arises when the nurse places a blue or pink cap on the baby’s head. This act symbolizes the gender of the baby, whether it is a boy (blue cap) or a girl (pink cap). At the age of four, the child becomes acquai...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the social role theory, a gender difference that results from the contrasting roles of females and males, causes gender differences regarding power, nurture, and assertiveness.
- Analyzes how toys r us exposes hidden sexism through children's toys. the "barbie" doll is responsible for what society has placed as the ideal "standard of beauty".
- Analyzes how boys' toys encourage aggressive behavior, dominance, and competition, while women are viewed as weaker genders.
- Disagrees with the stereotypical approach of toy marketers separating toys by gender. they argue that it would be wise to market toys portraying gender neutrality.
- Explains that toys are a crucial component in the social development and behavior of children.
- Concludes that gender stereotypes and gender roles are taught and reinforced through toys. the idea that boys are obligated to be doctors, innovators, and overachievers, while girls should maintain positions such as nurses, is not right.
- Cites rajecki, dame, creek, barrickman, reid, c. a., and appleby, d.
- Analyzes how gender stereotypes perpetuate children's toys, and explains the concept of gender socialization in santrock’s book.
- Analyzes the effects of commercials on children's perceptions of gender-appropriate toys and their parents' beliefs about them.
1409 wordsRead More - Gender Femininity And Masculinityanalytical essayAll around the world society has created an ideological perspective for the basis of gender roles. Gender and sex are often times misused and believed to be interchangeable. This is not the case. There are two broad generalization of sexes; female and male, yet there is a vast number of gender roles that each sex should more or less abide by. The routinely cycle of socially acceptable behaviors and practices is what forms the framework of femininity and masculinity. The assigned sex categories given at birth have little to do with the roles that a person takes on. Biological differences within females and males should not be used to construe stereotypes or discriminate within different groups. Social variables such as playing with dolls or
In this essay, the author
- Argues that society has created an ideological perspective for the basis of gender roles. the routinely cycle of socially acceptable behaviors and practices forms the framework of femininity and masculinity.
- Analyzes how gender inequalities are implanted in the very center of every society. pink is a delicate color that symbolizes romance, femininity, and tenderness.
- Argues that gender inequalities are an effective way to produce a division of labor. women are victimized by "historical and systematic denial of rights and privileges."
- Analyzes the socially constructed gender profile of men and women to see how society creates a dominant and powerful facade.
- Explains that sexism affects both males and females under patriarchal norms that operate within society.
1477 wordsRead More - Why Boys Don T Play With Dolls: The Men We Carry In Our Mindsanalytical essayHaving the opportunity to read many essays such as "The Man We Carry in Our Minds" by Scott Russell Sanders, "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid, "Why Boys Don 't Play with Dolls" by Katha Pollitt, and "Our Barbies, Ourselves" by Emily Prager, it has been amazing for me. Now, I could better understand about how life would be much easier or much harder for many people through generations. In this paper, I want to argue and discuss about if biological, social, and cultural factor are important in shaping gender role. Also, I want to explore how females or males are more restricted by conventional gender role.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that reading many essays like "the man we carry in our minds," "girl", "why boys don't play with dolls" and "our barbies, ourselves" helped them understand how life would be much easier or much harder for many people through generations.
- Analyzes biological, social and cultural factors, gender role, and conventional gender roles, before giving their opinion about what this essay will treat.
- Explains that the conventional gender role is established on or in compliance with what is usually done or believed by people according to their sex.
- Opines that biological factors influence people's performance in their lives, and that boys have a brave, extraordinary strength that characterizes the distinctive nature of future men.
- Analyzes how sanders' "the men we carry in our minds" explains that boys cry stronger and taller than girls at the moment of their birth, indicating that they are strong.
- Argues that social factors are important to people through their lives. sanders' argument through his essay was based on his own experience.
- Analyzes how cultural factors influence gender roles in different cultures, such as in the medical field, where doctors and nurses have to be careful while caring for patients.
- Argues that cultural factors are inherited rather than learned from cultural values. katha pollitt believes in the "theories of innate differences in boys and girls."
1921 wordsRead More