Agents of Socialization

Paper Summary:

Many agents of socialization are factors in socialization process. The family, education, and consumerism are considered to be some of the most important contributors. This paper explores the uniqueness of these agents in two different countries, Japan and the United States. Findings indicate that vastly different perceptions of the value of individualism and collectivism have a significant impact on the socialization practices for children in Japan and the United States. American practices focus on development of individualism, and those of Japan emphasize the development of group consciousness and strong interpersonal bonds.

From the Paper:

"The family is the most important influence in the socialization of children and for teaching them gender roles and other behavioral norms. Japanese concepts of family diverge greatly from those in the United States (Dolan and Worden, 1994). The Japanese divorce rate, although increasing slowly was only 1.3 per 1,000 marriages in 1987, is low by American standards. Strong gender roles remain the cornerstone of Japanese family responsibilities. Family life in Japan emphasizes parent-child ties over husband-wife relations. In America, the bulk of childrearing and domestic labor is also borne by women (Smock and Noonan, 2003)."

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