Chapter 7 Becoming Gendered: The Early Years. Today We Will Discuss: I. Entering a gendered society...

Chapter 7

Becoming Gendered: The

Early Years

Today We Will Discuss:I. Entering a gendered society

II. Gendering communication in the family

III. The personal side of the gender drama

I. Entering a gendered societyA. Self-as-objectSelf-as-object = ability to think, reflect, and

respond to ourselves1st it’s externalNext, we internalize

Their views become key to how see ourselvesCooley (1902)Looking Glass Self- the process of

developing a self-image on the basis of the messages we get from others, as we understand them. 1.We imagine how we appear to others; 2. We imagine what their judgment of that appearance

must be; 3. We develop our self through the judgments of

others ,some self-feeling, such as pride or mortification, as a result of our imagining others' judgment.

Gender is one of first senses of self we develop

DO YOU WANT TO LOOK DIFFERENTLY DO YOU WANT TO LOOK DIFFERENTLY TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE?TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE?

B. MonitoringWe are able to monitor ourselves

We observe and regulate our attitudes and behaviors

We are reminded of what others have told us we are supposed to think, do, look like, feel

Personal identity is socialInfluenced by family and society

Even when we don’t identify with prevailing social perspectives

II. Gendering Communication in the FamilyFamilies are a primary influence on gender

identity

A. Unconscious Process: Identification and Internalization

1. Freud’s Psychoanalitic Theory

“Anatomy is destiny”

Freud’s Birthplace and Childhood home Pribor, present day Czech Republic

Sigmund Freud (1856–1939)

Pictured here in 1884

The Structure of PersonalityThe Structure of Personality

ID EGO

SUPEREGO


The Id

Most primitive part of the mind; what we are born with

Source of all drives and urgesOperates according to the pleasure

principle and primary process thinking


The Ego

The part of the mind that constrains the id to reality

Develops around 2-3 years of ageMediates between the id and superego

(environment)


The Superego

The part of the mind that internalizes the values, morals, and ideals of society

Develops around age 5

Sigmund and Anna Freud(1895 – 1982)

A. Unconscious Processes: Identification & InternalizationA. Unconscious Processes: Identification & Internalization

Summarize Freud:Unconscious dynamics comes from psychoanalytic

theories Person’s core identity shaped in early years of life

Biology determines which parent the child will identify with Will determine how child’s psyche develops

No empirical support for Freud’s theory

More recent scholars say… Females do not envy penis May envy power it symbolizes


2. Earliest stages of life

Primary caregiver Children of both sexes form first identification with

adult woman

Around 3, male and female development diverge Cognitive theory

Girls continue to identify with mother Value relationships

Boys lessen identification with mother Value independence


Current Family Trends

Fathers in our era

Children of single-parents - difficulty finding models of both genders

Single-father-child discussions tend to be more elaborate than…

B. Ego BoundariesEgo boundaries = the point of which the

individual stops and rest of world begins

Linked to gender identity

Feminine gender identity

Interconnected

Masculine gender identity

Autonomous

What traits would this perception facilitate???What traits would this perception facilitate???

How does this perspective impact our relationships?

C. Parental Communication about GenderThis ties in with the social and cognitive theory

Parents’ communication towards sons and daughters reflect the parents’ gender stereotypes

_?_are rewarded for being helpful, nurturing, deferential At times for being assertive, athletic, smart

Middle-class Caucasian parents Chicano families Asian families

_?_ are rewarded for being competitive, independent, assertive

C. Parental Communication about GenderC. Parental Communication about Gender

Within 24 hours of birth, parents respond to babies in terms of genderBoys = strong, hardy, big, active, alertGirls = small, dainty, delicate


Mothers’ communication focuses on providing comfort, security, emotional developmentMore emotional talk with their daughters

Daughters disclose more information to parents

Fathers encourage gender-appropriate behaviorsTalk more with daughtersEngage in more activities with sons

C. Parental Communication about GenderC. Parental Communication about GenderMothers play with children at children’s level

Today’s fathers are more involvedEncourage initiative, achievementFathers’ communication has strong impact on

self-esteem


Parents also communicate gender expectations through toys, clothes, and chores

Gender socialization more rigid for boys than for girls

Parents who limit toys limit children’s development of various ways of thinking and interacting

D. Parental Modeling1. Parents most visible models of masculinity and

femininitya. Families in our era much more diverse

Single parents provide more multifaceted models More women live without a spouse than with one

1950:35% 2000: 49% 2007: 51%

Black women: 70% Hispanic women: 49% Non-Hispanic: 55%

b. The Role of the Breadwinner1970: 40% of married women worked outside

of the home

2000: the percentage reversed!

2007: 53% of mothers with infants…75% of mothers with school-aged children…

1/2 of white men and 1/3 of black men bring in at least 70% of family income

30% of women in dual-worker family make more money than their male partner

c. Same-Sex CouplesGay and lesbian parents becoming more visible

2000: 1% 33% women 22% men

d. Blended families commonChildren can observe more diverse ideas of how

families can work and gender can be embodied

e. Parents model attitudes about gender & appearance

Fathers who workout encourage sons to play sports

Mothers remark about their weight and eating habits

How do their comments indirectly effect their sons and daughters?????

Children are also listening to parents compliments and arguments.

How does this influence a child’s idea of gender?

Personal gender identity changes over time as they develop and interact with diverse people

III. The personal side of the gender dramaA. Growing up Masculine (6 themes of masculinity)

1. Don’t be female

2. Be successful

3. Be sexual

4. Be self-reliant

5. Aggression

6. Embrace traditional masculine traits but also be sensitive and egalitarian

a. The Downside to Growing Up Masculine

Men who do not measure up may experience depressionMore than 6 million

Unwilling to seek help due to views of masculinity

Men 4 times more likely to commit suicide

B. Growing Up Feminine

1. Two versions of femininity exist today

Women now have it all

It is not possible to have it all

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE???

2. 5 Themes of FemininityAppearance still counts

Be sensitive and caring

Negative treatment by othersThe age 10 -14

Be superwoman

There is NO single meaning of feminine anymore

C. Growing Up Outside Conventional Gender Roles

For people who do not identify with and perform normative gender, sex, sexuality – growing up can be difficultGay men may be ostracized and Lesbians can be

scorned

Transgendered socially isolatedUp to 3 million

Hard to find role models

Hard to find acceptance

Growing Up Outside Conventional Gender Roles

Chapter 7 Becoming Gendered: The Early Years. Today We Will Discuss: I. Entering a gendered society...

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