Parents are one of the biggest influences in a child's life; they buy toys suitable to their child's sex. This however stereotypes the child. And already at a very young age they are playing with toys that are designed for either male or female. Parents also encourage different types of behaviour depending on the sex of the child, boys being boisterous and often getting into trouble, whilst girls should be sweet and innocent rarely getting into trouble.
Our society seems to have traditional views and attitudes surrounding being a boy or a girl, and these stereotypes influence our everyday behaviour. More or less a child is treated differently by adults according to his or her own sex. However some boys and girls do not conform to the traditional expectations set by society. Adults can treat them in a way which it is hoped will bring out conformity. Girls who are labelled as "tomboys" are seen to be going through a phase which will soon end when they realise that being feminine is much more "natural" and "acceptable". Boys who take an interest in dolls, cooking, housework etc. are labelled "cissies" and are often told to "behave like a man". Through the media many children's cartoons are stereotyped, generally the main action "hero" is male being portrayed as having dangerous and exciting adventures, rescuing girls and animals, being dominant, active and brave, compared to females as they play a much more subordinate role being passive and caring. .
Before children start school they have already been influenced into what gender role they should be. According to research carried out by Walker and Barton in Gender, Class and Education (Moore 1995) "teachers act differently towards male and female pupils on the basis of assumptions, which they make regarding the appropriate behaviour and aptitudes of the two sexes." The research pointed out that girls are rewarded for silence, neatness and conformity, whereas teachers tolerated the more rebellious attitudes of boys.
