Gender Socialization among Adolescents - Research Paper Example

Gender socialization among adolescents The gender socialization is thought to be entirely the prerogative of the parents (Berns, 17). However, the society has a large influence when it comes to the construction of gender. The process involves verbalization, manipulation and canalization. There is a growing mindset that gender definition is subject to culture and social norms. The media plays a crucial role in the reinforcing and understanding of gender issues. The research aims at investigating the problem of gender socialization among adolescents and the impact influence exerted by the media. Individual relationships influence macro level signifiers. Gender socialization can be defined as the process in which people are caused to behave in a certain manner. This is influenced by the examples, values and attitudes. The stereotypes are perpetuated through magazines and other forms of media. It can also occur through family members, teachers and authorities (McDonald, 11). Socio-cultural values have a direct relationship with gender socialization. Literature review Socialization refers to how we learn to be members of certain groups (Dietz, 15). Gender norms among teenagers can be taught through media influence and societal pressure. Different societies have different rules for femininity and masculinity (Chan et al, 17). Magazines are used to portray women as cooperative, nurturing and sensitive (Greca and Lopez, 17). Media shows men to be dominant, financial providers, logical and skilled in businesses (Chan et al, 17). Media is used to shape the expectations of the teenagers and their gender roles. Magazines indicate that women are supposed to be objects for display of beauty (Dietz, 15). This means that they are expected to be passive and submissive. Unfortunately, women are also portrayed as sex objects. This is pronounced through female body exposures and display of unrealistic images. Young ladies are pressured to be beautiful and attractive. Television is used to display members of either gender in a certain manner. This means that teenage girls are brought out as less serious in matters of life (McDonald, 11). Gender socialization among adolescents is heavily influenced by the cultural values and the attitudes propagated by magazines (Chan et al, 17). The knowledge and information from the print and electronic magazines or media plays a critical role in shaping the interpretations of gender. The behavior and understanding of the adolescents can be weakened or strengthened through magazine-cultivated judgments (Dietz, 15). Studies show that adolescents perceive the world through cultural lens. The society plays an influential role in the construction of attitudes. Exposure to media has an overwhelming impact of the expectations and mindsets of the adolescents. The concept of success and luxury is shaped through media campaigns (Greca and Lopez, 17). Adolescence is a stage where the social and physical experiences of individuals change (Chan et al, 17). The teen movies are known to shape the expectations and roles adolescent play in their respective genders. The perception of sociological realizations and the conduct is built through media-created mindsets (McDonald, 11). Media backlashes are increasingly becoming infleutial especially because of the growing number of gender specific TV channels (Dietz, 15). The social environment has increasingly gained ground through internetworking and the wave of globalization. The adolescent group is an easy target to the media exaggerations that are not necessary accurate. Television channels, magazines, books and computers are dictating the trends in the field of relationships, fashion, decorations and understanding of the opposite sex (Chan et al, 17). The stereotypical texts and images are known to overwhelm avid readers. Methodology Researching in the topic demands a qualitative approach (Chan et al, 17). This means that studies from secondary sources like magazines shall play a central role in providing the data needed. The opinions of the other researches will be considered. Notes shall be taken from the chosen magazines. This shall involve considering information from five different magazines. The teenage television shows that that aim at indicating the influence exerted on young people when it comes to gender issues. The magazines and television programs shall seek to address the topics that relate on how genders are portrayed. This shall include the perceived differences in terms of roles, power, status and influence. The use of media to shape the behavior and attitude of sexual responsibility and the different between gender roles shall be looked into. The magazines and teenage television programs shall be assessed to estimate the overall impact on adolescent gender attitudes. Qualitative research is expansive and representative while researching of gender socialization. Findings The research revealed that the contemporary society is greatly influenced by the media. The process of gender socialization tends to show the role of the society in shaping the mindset of the teenagers. Most of the magazines indicated that teenagers are adolescents are vulnerable to the misconceptions and stereotypes propagated by the media. Extreme television programs have an impact in the thoughts of the young people. Most of the young people in the United States spend hours watching television. Teenage movies show that women are increasingly being presented as objects of sexual fulfillment and entertainment. This means that the roles of gender tend to emerge progressively depending on the social and cultural perceptions of the people (McDonald, 11). Gender socialization according to the magazines indicated that men are expected to be a symbol of strength and protection in the society. Societal norms are translated or communicated through repeated messages. Commercial ads play a profound role in the process of shaping the gender role in among adolescents. Given the sensitivity of the adolescent stage, it is clear that young people take advice to mean ultimate truth. The findings indicated that adolescents are committed to activities that cause them to become accepted by their peers. The media portrays sexuality in a stylish manner especially among the adolescents. Mass media is seen to provide the models for sexual behavior through the use of celebrity personalities and authorities (Chan et al, 17). The findings show that adolescents have an overwhelming trust for media. Most of the sexual content in the media plays a negative role in the gender socialization process. Majority of the adolescents take up the attitudes and norms that are projected through television programs and magazines. Increased use of internet and Smartphone has also given the young people unlimited access to gender information. The research indicates that most of the content is sexual and inaccurate. Modern gender socialization is greatly affected by the changing body feelings. Magazines are saturated with normative information passed through media characters. Most of the characters endorse recreation and regular sexually risky behavior. The rise of non-marital sexual activities is expected to have a profound impact of the adolescents. This is especially because a majority of the adolescents depend on online and print magazines for advice and direction. Gender socialization is increasingly being overtaken by the sexual information and increased indulgence. The results of the study also indicated that gender inequality is a strong factor that in the process of socialization. The mindset that genders are different in terms of power and status means that males and females should take up some roles automatically. The males are prepared to the political and powerful roles in the society while females are prepared to be passive helpers and less dominant. The findings reveal that business world reflects that men are expected to outshine women. Young girls grow with the mentality of expecting a leader. The actual social world is responsible for the propagation of the difference of perceptions and inequalities that have been practiced for years. According to the research, identity formation at adolescence stage is related to gender socialization. Social knowledge is rarely discussed by parents. This has pronounced the role of media and a growing number of adolescents turn to magazines, television programs and other social avenues for advice on self identity. The study shows that the perceptions of inequalities affect the expected role of the young people in future. The perceptions of gender socialization tend to increase with age (Chan et al, 17). The understanding on the role of gender and sexuality becomes vivid an interaction with the social world increases. This sets a stage for male dominance, female’s roles, definition of success in life and status. The gender attributes are shaped by both the acceptable and illicit sources of information and knowledge. Gender socialization among the adolescents remains to be a progressive process with multiple stakeholders. The realization of sexual attributes in the puberty stage creates an anxiety that is the responsible for a propensity in socialization and curiosity. Different cultures and societies teach adolescents differently. The acceptance and prejudices from the society shape the expectations of gender roles among majority of the adolescents. In many instances, gender differences are also taught as gender inequalities. The perceptions, knowledge and values that are instilled formally or informally among the adolescent is known to shape their expectations in life. Magazines and designers are increasingly advertising gender sensitive brands with tips on the uniqueness of either gender. The description of dominance, wealth and equality differs at different stages in the stage of adolescence. Between 9 and 12, most of the adolescents are seen to perceptive inequalities in gender roles. At this stage, they are socialized to believe the superiority or inferiority of either gender. The findings show that the process whereby adolescents acquire attitudes and beliefs is heavily influenced by the time spent on television and magazines. Case studies show that the social learning theory is a strong reflection of the adolescents learning behaviors. This process of observation and direct or indirect training is known to shape the behavioral traits of the particular genders. Biological determination can be contrasted by the cognitive development theories with regard to gender roles. Adolescents tend to learn gender roles through observations. The findings assert that the concept of social learning theories links imitation to gender roles. Adolescents are known to observe or imitate their ideal media figures. Magazines, books and television programs tend to shape the expectations of success among young people. This affects the roles the genders play. Genders are socialized to define success differently. Males are brought out as successful when they are wealthy and powerful. The same standard is not used on females. The process of gender socialization is active and intentional. Conclusion The findings indicate there is need for an absolute understanding of the role of media in the process of gender socialization. Children acquire organized knowledge in an extremely wide social environment. This includes the mainstream media like television and magazines. The information about gender comes through advertisement, roles models, peers and culture. The gender socialization is bound to change as culture continues to evolve under the influence of globalization. The beliefs that adolescents acquire can be formal or informal. However, the extreme desire to be accepted and loved is known to be the biggest desire to acquire values. The process of constructing the role of a boy or a girl is entirely dependent to the level of exposure and access to information. The findings suggest that same sex role models play a more positive and infleutial role leading to stability of adolescents. Gender socialization is a form of motivation that can affect achievements or underachievement (Berns, 17). There is a correlation between psychological adjustment and gender roles. Gender-related behaviors are developed through increased exposure and sharing information with adolescents on their capabilities. Gender roles are set by the society. The stage of formulation can set a platform for the formulation of new roles or dropping others. This can occur through the influence of the social media, online magazines and other forms of mainstream media. The expectations of the adolescents are shaped by televisions programs and peer influence. The inherent behaviors between boys and girls cannot be overruled. Different information affects genders differently (Lippa, 13). Girls are likely to succumb to social pressure faster than boys. Adolescent boys are socialized to be independent and successful as a part of the becoming a man. The same messages are pronounced by the mainstream media and brand marketing ads. The stage of adolescence is characterized by vulnerabilities to exaggerated gender messages and inaccurate information given to boys and girls, often for commercial reasons. Works Cited Berns, Roberta. Child, Family, School, Community: Socialization and Support. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2004. Print. Chan, Kara, Birgitte Tufte, Gianna Cappello, and Russell B. Williams. "Tween girls' perception of gender roles and gender identities: a qualitative study." Young Consumers: Insight and Ideas for Responsible Marketers 6.1 (2011): 10-19. Print. Denham, Susanne A. Focus on Gender: Parent and Child Contributions to the Socialization of Emotional Competence. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2010. Print. Dietz, Tracy L. "An Examination of Violence and Gender Role Portrayals in Video Games: Implications for Gender Socialization and Aggressive Behavior." Sex Roles 2.2 (1998): 10-20. Print. Greca, Annette M., and Nadja Lopez. "Social Anxiety Among Adolescents: Linkages with Peer Relations and Friendships." Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 4.1 (1998): 12-17. Print. Lippa, Richard A. Gender, Nature, and Nurture. Mahwah, N.J: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2005. Print. McDonald, Peter. "Gender equity, social institutions and the future of fertility." Journal of Population Research 3.3 (2000): 9-19. Print. Read More