Gender Socialization

Research Paper # 102224

Gender and Sexuality > Gender Studies

This paper explores the influence of gender socialization in children's clothes, toys and books.

1,311 words () | 3 sources | APA | 2007

Paper Summary:

The writer examines how gender socialization is reinforced or facilitated by children's clothes, toys and books, based on the observation of a child's clothing, toy and book store at a mall in Los Angeles. The writer shows how stores offered gender-coded clothes for newborns, toys that reflected the gender roles expected by society, and books for school-age children that tended to encourage them to fit into these gender-specific roles. The paper concludes that we should become conscious about our perception on gender identity and how our lives are limited and reinforced by gender stereotypes.

From the Paper:

"Purchasing baby clothes is the very first exciting thing for new parents, their families or their friends. Just like someone expecting a baby soon, I excitingly stepped into a children's clothing store. I strolled up and down the boy's section and girl's section of the store and thought, "why everything here is gender-coded and why everything has a clear distinctions in gender?!" No color was gender-neutral. Warm, soft colors like pink were for girls. Dark colors like brown or very bright colors like red were for boys. Only pale green and yellow seemed to be gender-neutral, which I guess was reserved for the children of unknown sex. In addition to colors, the motifs used for outfits were also gender-coded. For example, butterflies, flowers, laces, and ribbons represented girls. Motor vehicles, tools, sports equipments represented boys. Baby items or animals seemed to be gender-neutral."

Sample of Sources Used:

Adams, Janus (1994). "Children's Books: Buyer Beware"
Bornstein, Kate (1994). "Gender Outlaw"
Newman, David M. (1997). "The Socialization of Gender," pp. 127-139, from Chapter 5, "Building Identity The Social Construction of Self," in Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life. Thousand Oaks, California Pine Forge Press.