Chapter 2 - Sex and Sexuality

Question- Give a social explanation of gender.

Related Short Answer Questions

1. What are the ways in which the processes of socialization contribute to the development of gender specificity in children?
2. What is genderisation?

Answer -

Actually it is difficult to say how gender is natural or natural and how it is socially constructed. Because as soon as a child is born, the family and society start socializing the child as a boy or a girl, in most areas of India, the birth of a son is celebrated as a festival, whereas on the birth of a daughter there is no such celebration. The ceremony is not held. It is very important to understand that the social and cultural form which is actually determined by the different status/prestige of man and woman in the society, it is man-made, nature has nothing to do with it. It is actually gender that has determined that in almost all places, women are considered subordinate or inferior to men. Girls have fewer rights, have fewer resources, work longer than men, but their work is undervalued and they get less wages/daily wages. They are victims of violence by men and society and have little decision-making power in social, economic and political institutions.

Costumes : In most societies, girls and boys, women and men wear different types of costumes. In some places this difference may be very minor but, in many places, it may be very large or strict. In some communities, women are required to cover their entire body from head to toe, including their face. The manner in which they dress can and does affect their mobility, sense of independence and dignity. The tradition of veils or the practice of covering the whole body limits the freedom of girls and women in many ways.

Qualities : Women are expected to have goodness, care, nurturing, obedience etc. and men will have qualities like strength, self-confidence, competitiveness and rationality.

Roles and Responsibilities : Men are considered to be the head of the family, the bread earner, the owner and manager of property and active in politics, religion, trade and professions, on the other hand women are expected to bear children, take care of the sick, and will serve the elderly, will do household chores etc. They are also trained to perform these tasks. Socialization is the process of nurturing children so that they can develop into adequate adult members of their society. Socialization is a continuous process in any family or society. As soon as a child is born, its gender is determined.

The specific process of socialization by which their gender roles are taught is also called gendering. Through various social methods, children are taught and their behaviour, attitudes, and roles are internalized into masculine and feminine forms.

According to Ruth Hartley, socialization occurs through four processes, which are as follows - operational/behavioural skills, canalization, language use and activity exposure. Operating is the way you deal with the child. It has been observed that boys are treated as strong, autonomous and doing right from the beginning. In some cultures, the mother gives a girl a distinctive feminine look to her hair, her dress, and tells her that she looks very beautiful. The physical experiences of early childhood are very important in shaping the self-realization of girls and boys.

The second process, arranging, involves directing the attention of boys and girls to objects and sides of objects. Like giving dolls to girls to play, giving them utensils, and giving guns to boys to play, giving cars and airplanes, etc. Boys, on the other hand, are sent to school, or are asked to work outside the home. Through this type of partisan behaviour, the interests of boys and girls are canalized and they are separated. Develop different abilities, attitudes, aspirations and dreams.

The language used with boys and girls is also different. Girls will say “Oh wow, you look so beautiful” and if boys, they will say “You look so impressive and energetic.” Research studies show that such observations build self-identifications of masculinity and femininity in boys and girls; children tend to think of themselves as either male or female, and therefore identify themselves with other males or females.”

The last process is activity exposure. Both boys and girls are influenced by traditional masculine and feminine activities from childhood. Girls are told that they should help their mother with household chores, and boys by their father. In communities where both sexes are segregated, boys and girls live in different places and have to do totally different types of activities. Through these processes, children acquire the meanings of masculinity and femininity, and these meanings are internalized almost unconsciously.

Leela Dubey has made an in-depth study of gender socialization process. She says that even this does not completely go in the favour of girls. Girls have less access to resources such as food, health care, nutrition, inheritance of property and access to information.

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