Gender socialization is part of life. It happens all around us everyday. From the moment babies are born, they are either called a boy or they are called a girl. Gender socialization first happens in the home with the family. Depending on whether we are born male or female, we are set on a separate course in life for that sex. From cultural guidelines, Parents begin to teach children their part in this symbolic separation of the sexes. Based on this socialization that happens at a very early age, there is a strong impact on the identity of the individual.

Color plays a big part in the gender socialization of a young child’s life. Girls are dressed in pink clothes that symbolize femininity. Boys are dressed in blue clothes that symbolize masculinity. Girls are given Barbie dolls, jewelry, and make-up to play with and boys are given dinosaurs, airplanes, and power rangers. “According to Stoller, labels such as ‘masculine and femi

Gender socialization and its impact on the identity of the individual are very strong forces in our culture. There are definite roles and norms for each gender, clear divisions for what is male and what is female. There are uncomfortable consequences for each identity when the individual does not fall within those gender norms that society creates. On the other hand, the individual will fit in when conforming to the standards of our society.

Females might have a stronger gender social norm than males in our society. When girls grow up seeing Barbie dolls, beautiful models and nearly unattainable figure standards, they are made to feel less important when they do not measure up to these standards. A good indicator of this is the fact that there are such high rates of eating disorders among females, especially teenagers. Bulimia, anorexia, constant dieting, and starvation are all indications of the feelings of needing to be equal and identify with the social norm of the female gender.

Parents teach

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