Gender Socialization and Roles

Gender Socialization

• Parents influence children’s understanding of gender roles through reinforcement of behaviors.
• Younger siblings tend to adopt the gender roles and activities of their older siblings, especially in early adolescence.
• Peers reinforce gender behaviors modeled by parents.
• Playgrounds serve as "gender schools" where boys and girls reinforce gender-typical behaviors among their peers.
• Adolescents are heavily influenced by peer approval of gender behaviors, although gender segregation still persists.
• Peers reward gender-appropriate behaviors and punish those that do not conform.
• Classrooms often emphasize behaviors like compliance and neatness, which are more common in girls
• Male teachers tend to view boys more positively than female teachers.

Masculinity, Femininity, and Androgyny

• Society's expectations for boys and girls have historically been rigid, valuing masculine traits over feminine traits.
• The concept of androgyny emerged in the 1970s, recognizing the value of having both masculine and feminine traits.
• Research suggests androgynous people tend to be more adaptable, healthier, and experience less stress than those with strictly masculine or feminine traits.

Gender Roles and Cultural Contexts

• Traditional gender roles have been rigid, expecting boys to be independent and aggressive, while girls are seen as nurturing and dependent.
• Globally, significant shifts have occurred in gender roles, including in India, where attitudes toward women's roles are evolving.
• Educational initiatives promoting androgyny have mixed success.
• The effectiveness of androgyny-promoting educational programs varies by cultural context and depends on support from educators and parents.

Gender Intensification Hypothesis

• The hypothesis proposes that psychological and behavioral differences between boys and girls become greater during early adolescence due to increased socialization pressure to conform to masculine and feminine gender roles.

Sexuality in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood

• During adolescence and emerging adulthood, sexuality is a central aspect of identity development.
• Biological changes during puberty, particularly hormonal shifts, are crucial in shaping sexual identity.
• Social norms and peer perceptions significantly impact sexual identity.
• Cultural background heavily influences how adolescents understand and express their sexuality.

Developing a Sexual Identity

• Adolescents navigate evolving desires, new forms of intimacy, and the need to regulate behavior to avoid negative outcomes.
• Sexual identity includes sexual orientation, attitudes, interests, and behaviors.

Variation in Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors

• Sexual attitudes among Indian adolescents vary significantly.
  • Conservative attitudes are held by many, especially in rural areas.
  • Urban adolescents may have more exploratory attitudes, influenced by media and evolving societal views.
  • Adolescents in major cities, with access to sexual education, often approach sexual experiences with greater confidence and understanding.

Sexual Attitudes and Behavior

• Adolescent sexual behavior generally progresses from kissing to intercourse.
• Rates of sexual activity among adolescents have increased, with about half having had intercourse by age 17.
• Males report higher rates of sexual activity.
• The traditional sexual script often involves males initiating and females setting limits.

Sexual Minority Youth's Attitudes and Behavior

• Sexual attraction is complex and influenced by genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors.

Rape

• Many victims, particularly college students, may not recognize their experience as rape.
• Rape is often rooted in social norms that socialize males as aggressive and females as inferior.
• Rapists typically exhibit power-driven aggression, and substance use is commonly linked to these crimes.
• Date Rape is a form of coercive sexual activity from someone known to the victim.
• Dating violence, which can be a precursor to adult partner violence, is prevalent amongst adolescents.
• Rape can cause long-term emotional distress, depression, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction.

Sexual Harassment

• Sexual harassment includes behaviors ranging from sexist remarks to physical assault.
• High rates of sexual harassment are reported among adolescents and college students.
• Sexual harassment can lead to distress, illness, and disordered eating.
• Quid Pro Quo and Hostile Environment are recognized as illegal forms of sexual harassment in schools and workplaces.
• The 2013 Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act in India addresses both quid pro quo and hostile environment cases.