Gender Socialization Essay

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

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