Today We Will Discuss:I. Entering a gendered society
II. Gendering communication in the family
III. The personal side of the gender drama
I. Entering a gendered societyA. Self-as-objectSelf-as-object = ability to think, reflect, and
respond to ourselves1st it’s externalNext, we internalize
Their views become key to how see ourselvesCooley (1902)Looking Glass Self- the process of
developing a self-image on the basis of the messages we get from others, as we understand them. 1.We imagine how we appear to others; 2. We imagine what their judgment of that appearance
must be; 3. We develop our self through the judgments of
others ,some self-feeling, such as pride or mortification, as a result of our imagining others' judgment.
Gender is one of first senses of self we develop
DO YOU WANT TO LOOK DIFFERENTLY DO YOU WANT TO LOOK DIFFERENTLY TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE?TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE?
B. MonitoringWe are able to monitor ourselves
We observe and regulate our attitudes and behaviors
We are reminded of what others have told us we are supposed to think, do, look like, feel
Personal identity is socialInfluenced by family and society
Even when we don’t identify with prevailing social perspectives
II. Gendering Communication in the FamilyFamilies are a primary influence on gender
identity
A. Unconscious Process: Identification and Internalization
1. Freud’s Psychoanalitic Theory
“Anatomy is destiny”
The Structure of PersonalityThe Structure of Personality
The Id
Most primitive part of the mind; what we are born with
Source of all drives and urgesOperates according to the pleasure
principle and primary process thinking
The Structure of PersonalityThe Structure of Personality
The Ego
The part of the mind that constrains the id to reality
Develops around 2-3 years of ageMediates between the id and superego
(environment)
The Structure of PersonalityThe Structure of Personality
The Superego
The part of the mind that internalizes the values, morals, and ideals of society
Develops around age 5
A. Unconscious Processes: Identification & InternalizationA. Unconscious Processes: Identification & Internalization
Summarize Freud:Unconscious dynamics comes from psychoanalytic
theories Person’s core identity shaped in early years of life
Biology determines which parent the child will identify with Will determine how child’s psyche develops
No empirical support for Freud’s theory
More recent scholars say… Females do not envy penis May envy power it symbolizes
A. Unconscious Processes: Identification & InternalizationA. Unconscious Processes: Identification & Internalization
2. Earliest stages of life
Primary caregiver Children of both sexes form first identification with
adult woman
Around 3, male and female development diverge Cognitive theory
Girls continue to identify with mother Value relationships
Boys lessen identification with mother Value independence
A. Unconscious Processes: Identification & InternalizationA. Unconscious Processes: Identification & Internalization
Current Family Trends
Fathers in our era
Children of single-parents - difficulty finding models of both genders
Single-father-child discussions tend to be more elaborate than…
B. Ego BoundariesEgo boundaries = the point of which the
individual stops and rest of world begins
Linked to gender identity
Feminine gender identity
Interconnected
Masculine gender identity
Autonomous
What traits would this perception facilitate???What traits would this perception facilitate???
C. Parental Communication about GenderThis ties in with the social and cognitive theory
Parents’ communication towards sons and daughters reflect the parents’ gender stereotypes
_?_are rewarded for being helpful, nurturing, deferential At times for being assertive, athletic, smart
Middle-class Caucasian parents Chicano families Asian families
_?_ are rewarded for being competitive, independent, assertive
C. Parental Communication about GenderC. Parental Communication about Gender
Within 24 hours of birth, parents respond to babies in terms of genderBoys = strong, hardy, big, active, alertGirls = small, dainty, delicate
C. Parental Communication about GenderC. Parental Communication about Gender
Mothers’ communication focuses on providing comfort, security, emotional developmentMore emotional talk with their daughters
Daughters disclose more information to parents
Fathers encourage gender-appropriate behaviorsTalk more with daughtersEngage in more activities with sons
C. Parental Communication about GenderC. Parental Communication about GenderMothers play with children at children’s level
Today’s fathers are more involvedEncourage initiative, achievementFathers’ communication has strong impact on
self-esteem
C. Parental Communication about GenderC. Parental Communication about Gender
Parents also communicate gender expectations through toys, clothes, and chores
Gender socialization more rigid for boys than for girls
Parents who limit toys limit children’s development of various ways of thinking and interacting
D. Parental Modeling1. Parents most visible models of masculinity and
femininitya. Families in our era much more diverse
Single parents provide more multifaceted models More women live without a spouse than with one
1950:35% 2000: 49% 2007: 51%
Black women: 70% Hispanic women: 49% Non-Hispanic: 55%
b. The Role of the Breadwinner1970: 40% of married women worked outside
of the home
2000: the percentage reversed!
2007: 53% of mothers with infants…75% of mothers with school-aged children…
1/2 of white men and 1/3 of black men bring in at least 70% of family income
30% of women in dual-worker family make more money than their male partner
c. Same-Sex CouplesGay and lesbian parents becoming more visible
2000: 1% 33% women 22% men
d. Blended families commonChildren can observe more diverse ideas of how
families can work and gender can be embodied
e. Parents model attitudes about gender & appearance
Fathers who workout encourage sons to play sports
Mothers remark about their weight and eating habits
How do their comments indirectly effect their sons and daughters?????
Children are also listening to parents compliments and arguments.
How does this influence a child’s idea of gender?
Personal gender identity changes over time as they develop and interact with diverse people
III. The personal side of the gender dramaA. Growing up Masculine (6 themes of masculinity)
1. Don’t be female
2. Be successful
3. Be sexual
4. Be self-reliant
5. Aggression
6. Embrace traditional masculine traits but also be sensitive and egalitarian
a. The Downside to Growing Up Masculine
Men who do not measure up may experience depressionMore than 6 million
Unwilling to seek help due to views of masculinity
Men 4 times more likely to commit suicide
B. Growing Up Feminine
1. Two versions of femininity exist today
Women now have it all
It is not possible to have it all
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE???
2. 5 Themes of FemininityAppearance still counts
Be sensitive and caring
Negative treatment by othersThe age 10 -14
Be superwoman
There is NO single meaning of feminine anymore
C. Growing Up Outside Conventional Gender Roles
For people who do not identify with and perform normative gender, sex, sexuality – growing up can be difficultGay men may be ostracized and Lesbians can be
scorned
Transgendered socially isolatedUp to 3 million
Hard to find role models
Hard to find acceptance