Adolescence and Gender

1
Adolescence and Gender

• Defining Sex vs Gender
• Chromosomal
• Hormonal
• Gonadal
• Sexual Orientation
• Gender Identity (mind)
• Gender Roles (behaviors)
• Gender is what defines us, our masculinity and
  femininity, not sex or sexual reproduction or
  sexual behavior

2
Differential Gender Socialization

• Parents treat males / females differently
• Girls treated less physically, more verbally
• Out-role behavior is heavily punished by peers
• Middle childhood, rules become more flexible
• During puberty, though, rules become more rigid
  again
• Mostly imposed by peers
• Traditionally, males have received more attention
  in school, but recent research shows girls feel
  more accepted and encouraged than males

3
Cognition and gender

• 1. Kohlbergs cognitive-developmental theory of
  gender
• Gender identity develops around 3
• Gender Permanence develops around 5
• Then M/F select roles self-socialization
• Adolescents abstract the essence of feminine and
  masculine from many different examples
• 2. Gender schema theory mental organization of
  facts we selectively process information based
  on our gender and then conform our behavior to
  that template

4
Female socialization

• Womanhood just happens not achieved
• Need to be sheltered from work physical
  exertion would weaken the uterus Narrow gender
  socialization (traditional cultures)
• Should shelter her developing sexuality would
  entice males (who we know cant be controlled)
  Narrow sexual socialization, traditional and
  modern cultures). Only in modern times are girls
  typically informed of menarche.
• Typically work with mother, and remain close to
  her, throughout life modified by marriage
• Techniques for enhancing appearance makeup,
  corsets, hose (foot binding in China)

5
Male socialization

• Manhood must be earned demonstrated
• Communal manhood historical, nontraditional -
  join the tribe it is the males who run the
  community males need to demonstrate desire
  ability to believe in and carry on the traditions
  inherit the rules and the farm modern
  Fraternities
• Provide, Protect, Procreate
• Develop character qualities of diligence
  stamina, courage and fortitude
• Man judged by his character maturity, ability
  to be strong (physically, mentally, emotionally)
• Modern societies today Self-made manhood
  economic
• Passionate manhood be passionate, fiery,
  aggressive, a lover

6
American History

• Industrial rev. brought in new ideals become
  independent leave home
• E.g., inception of YMCA, YWCA
• Develop morals, physical ability recall that
  the I.R. was a very unhealthy time needed to
  re-emphasize health
• Gender socialization in traditional cultures
  becomes BROAD for boys
• Other cultures tribal e.g., Italian males
  live at home until they marry
• Western cultures today - passionate manhood
  self-expression and self-enjoyment more accepted
  today (but will this last in our new time of
  conservative values?)
• Today, broad gender socialization for girls, and
  narrow sexual socialization
• Narrow gender socialization for boys, and broad
  sexual socialization

7
Gender Intensification Hypothesis

• At puberty, males and females accentuate their
  gender differences, both externally (physically)
  and internally (mentally)
• Hold rigid gender stereotypes
• Intense socialization pressure
• Self-conscious about appearance
• NORC data show gender role stereotypes have
  become less rigid

8
Media and Gender

• Teen magazines relentlessly promote gender
  socialization of girls toward traditional
  feminine characteristics and behaviors
• Physical appearance, how to appeal to boys
• Also trying to influence teens to buy products
  clothes for girls, electronics for boys
• Main topic on careers for girls was modeling
• Girls more likely to develop a negative body
  image
• Leads to dieting and eating disorders
• Males socialize each other to become more
  aggressive ridicule each other and women
• Establish a dominance hierarchy

9
Masculinity, Femininity, Androgyny

• Judith Gibbons cross-cultural study of gender
  ideals
• Ideal man woman kind honest
• Low value money and popularity
• More important for a man to have a good job
• More important for a woman to be good looking
• Bem SRI most desirable M F traits
• Expressive traits Instrumental traits
• During adolescence, higher self-image is realted
  to female androgyny than male androgyny

10

• Androgyny may be healthier more flexible
• In adolescence, androgyny more healthy for girls
  than boys
• Acceptance by peers is highest for androgynous
  girls and masculine boys
• So in modern cultures there is a narrow gender
  socialization in gender traits for boys, but a
  broad gender socialization in traits for girls

11
Gender socialization as a source of problems

• Gender Role Strain
• Success, power, competition
• Restrictive emotionality (Alexithymia)
• Restrictive closeness with other men, including
  sons
• Conflict between work and family relations
• Males, gender role difficulties usually include
  aggression (dominance hierarchy), competition,
  suppress emotions, pain, injury, 4 times more
  likely to commit suicide
• Increases risk-taking behaviors which lead to
  accidents and diseases
• Sexual harassment and abuse
• Girls focus on physical appearance causes
  stress, pressures girls to define the self in
  terms of attractiveness, and perhaps contributes
  to eating disorders
• Pressure from boys AND girls

12
American Minority Groups

• African American females are more likely to have
  qualities that are typically thought of as more
  masculine
• Self reliance, assertiveness, perseverance
• Not as vulnerable to eating disorders
• A-A males are perhaps more likely to accentuate
  hypermasculine characteristics
• Latino F submissive, M machismo

13
Gender stereotypes in emerging adulthood

• Stereotypes about work roles, still present, but
  fading
• Why do stereotypes exist? Motivation to BE
  different.

14
Male / Female circumcision

• Much more restrictive for females
• Cultural focus meaning interpretation of
  female sexual needs purposes
• No basis in medical science for necessity of
  either male or female circumcision

15
Discussion questions

• Emotions
• Roles
• Peer Pressure
• Media influences
• Portrayal of men and women in media

16

• Sexual socialization
• Males Broad socialization
• Females Narrow socialization
• Exception bisexuality
• Gender socialization
• Roles
• Males
• Traditional broad
• Modern narrow
• Females
• Traditional narrow
• Modern - broadening
• Emotional
• Males narrow
• Females - broad