Welcome to Gender and Society

Pamela Collins, MA

Becoming Gendered

The family is the lynchpin of gender, reproducing it form one generation to

the next.

Becoming Gendered

Self- as an Object• First- views are external

• Later- Internalize views of self• Internalize- only after experiencing

others

Becoming Gendered

Monitoring• Internal Dialogues• Monitoring selves

• Tell selves- what to do, look like and feel

• Use symbols to define self

Becoming Gendered

Gendering Communication in the Family:

• Unconscious processes• Social Learning and Cognitive

development

Becoming Gendered

Unconsciousness processes:Sigmund Freud

Anatomy is destinyLittle empirical support

Family are critical to forming gender identity

Becoming Gendered

Unconscious processes:• Age 3- male & female development

diverges• Boys identify less with mothers, more

with girls• Complicated by lack of men in lives

Becoming Gendered• Girls rewarded for interaction with

mothers• Mother seen as role model for

femininity• Boys rewarded for independence and

roaming

Becoming Gendered Unconscious processes

• Discussing gender, not sex• Not born to be connected not

independent• Masculine women and men value

independence and distance• Feminine men and women value

relationships and closeness

Becoming Gendered• Unconscious processes

• Ego Boundaries• Where self starts and the world

begins• Female boundaries are permeable• Male boundaries less permeable

Becoming GenderedValues of males & females

Gender stereotypesDifferent expectations & achievement

Different expectations for assertiveness

Encourage gender appropriate behaviors

Becoming Gendered• Parental communication & gender

• Mothers spend more time with children

• Mothers focus upon providing comfort, security

• Fathers talk more about previous generations

• Fathers encourage physical play• Mothers more likely to talk about sex

Becoming Gendered• Parental Communication

• Girls use both parents as role models• Boys rely more on fathers as role

models• Parents communicate gender

expectations through toys and games• Household toys

Becoming Gendered• Parental Modeling• Masculinity & femininity• Changing due to diversity in families• Women breadwinners• Fathers at home• Gay & lesbian families• Blended families

Becoming Gendered• Parental Modeling

• Gender & Physical appearance• Physical strength is masculine• Being thin is feminine

Becoming Gendered• Different contributions of fathers and

mothers

• Fathers help with agency• Mothers help with confidence with

relationships• Fathers play more, care takes less

Becoming Gendered• Growing up masculine

• Don’t be feminine• Be successful• Be aggressive• Be sexual• Be self reliant

Becoming Gendered• Growing up feminine

• Be sensitive and caring• Negative treatment by others• Be superwoman

Becoming Gendered• Growing up without specific gender

roles:• Gay men ostracized for being

perceived as feminine• Lesbians scorned for being

masculine• Transgenders and intersexed people

are isolated• Hard to find role models

Gender Roles• How did your parents and/or other

primary caregivers persuade or encourage you to follow gender roles? Was this “push” based in culture and/or generational views?

Gender roles• How was this accomplished in your

family? Do you believe that this has or will influence your own parenting style/skills if you become a parent?

Gender roles• How did your parents and/or other

primary caregiver respond to the statement "I want to be….(career choice)… when I grow up"? What avenues did they take to either support or negate your thoughts?