Gender Roles

The term socialization refers to the “lifelong social experience by which individuals develop their human potential and learn culture.” [Macionis et al. p 55] The concept of socialization is that our actions are driven/learned by culture. Socialization is also the foundation of personality, which we build by internalizing our surroundings. Through the lifelong process of socialization, society transmits culture from one generation to the next.

A good example of socialization is the learning of gender roles. Anthropologist Margaret Mead reasoned that if gender reflects biological facts of sex, that people everywhere in the world would define the same traits as masculine or feminine. However, she argued, that if gender is cultural, such conceptions should vary. Mead researched three societies in New Guinea and concluded that “culture is the key to how sexes differ.” [Macionis et al. p233]

In the first society, Arapesh, Mead reported that the men and women had similar behaviour and attitudes. They possessed similar traits that our culture would define as feminine, such as being cooperative and sensitive to others. Similarly, Mead found the men and women of Mundugumor to posses similar traits as well, although contrary to those of

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It was not until recently that television has portrayed women in prominent roles. Although, contrary to our culture, the feminine and masculine traits defined by their culture were reversed. Parents, she stated, do this unconsciously by the way in which they act themselves, and by the way in which they handle their child. The media has a large role in the learning of gender distinction. And even today commercials for home products, such as dish soap and cleaners portray women doing the housework, whereas commercials for beer, cars and financial areas are predominantly male. Globally, physical labour seemed to be defined as ‘men’s work’, whereas the responsibilities of the home, such as cooking, cleaning and child rearing were deemed the ‘ladies work’.

A global study, performed by George Murdoch, showed that there seemed to be an agreement between the division of tasks seen as masculine, and those seen as feminine. The third society, that of Tchambuli, Mead observed to be similar in culture to our own in the facts that gender roles were distinct.

A study was done with many women who were given a baby dressed as either a boy or as a girl. Pushing males towards natural sciences and females towards home studies and clerical work. “Just as gender affects how we think of ourselves, so it teaches us to act in normative ways. p236]

Similarly, in the female peer group, the basis for family life is promoted through the activities they participate in, such as skills of communication and cooperation. And the variation of gender roles, in a global perspective, demonstrates that they are learned through socialization as oppose to stemming from nature, instinct and drive. Instead … what it means to be male and female is mostly a creation of society.

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