Gender Roles in Socialization Process - Essay Example

Gender Roles in Socialization Process I. My Socialization Process As far as development is concerned, socialization takes place the moment a person is born. Not because the baby is constantly talking or interacting with the people around him (he can’t; he is a baby), but the people around him have gender expectations ofr the baby. This even starts before the baby is born. For example, when the mother finds out that she is carrying a boy, then most probably she and her partner would buy blue objects for the baby to use when the baby finally comes out into the world: blue cribs, towels, clothes; as blue is associated with masculinity. Some brands even have gender-specific designs on their diapers: rocket ship details and ribbon details for boys and girls, respectively. Then of course, when the baby grows a bit, the hairstyles can be more telling as well. As in boys should have short ones and the girls should have long ones. These are also part of the gender socialization process, and ironically, the baby, being the participant in the whole interaction thing, does not even know that he is being conditioned to be a “boy” according to society’s definitions. I’m sure it occurred similarly for me. As a boy growing up, I have been conditioned to like the certain things that boys are supposed to like: toy cars, action figures and the like. I might not know what color my baby things were when I was an infant but I am quite sure that they were not pink. Society has a very strong influence on a person’s gender socialization process. Not only they are the first ones to take on the child’s first gender identification process, but they also reinforce it. Schools, the community and peers also influence the child too. I am thankful that my family, even if they are traditional, is not as strict with their expectations of me as a boy growing up. Sure, I have been exposed to “boy” objects and activities that are essentially rough and tumble in nature - and labeled for “boys”. I have had friends who were from the opposite sex when I was growing up, but then as a young boy, we did not play together not because we were forcefully separated because of our genders; we simply had different toys. I think this is because of the society’s strong influence on the gender differentiation. This influence is even felt in the workplace, or at least when one working. There are expectations for me at work, as I am a man and a manager in a dental office. Although most employees in our office are females, the manager (me) is a man. This is also part of the gender stereotype that men are much better as managers. Although I am the manager, I am not undermining my work. It’s just how the world expects the males and females in the professional world to work. II. Gender Inclusion Advocacy Interestingly, even at this age when people know very well that there are really no fundamental differences between the male and female sexes, there continues to be discrimination in the workplace, gender-wise. As a manager, I have to be sensitive with this issue. Workplaces have to be professional and unbiased. Ideally, employees have to be recruited because of qualifications, not because of gender. But then, in the real world, some people always judge by sex. This is not recommended at all. Managers have a big responsibility in offices. In my case, as a manager in a dental office, I have to take care of the employees and the customers. As a manager, I have to understand that my colleagues are also individuals and they might have their own opinions and beliefs about gender. I have to be sensitive about that because some people may something (sexually) offensive but some people may find it safe and tame. As you might know, sexual harassment is a big issue in workplaces. Some things, as mentioned before, can be misinterpreted and can lead to dysfunction in work and the overall performance of the office. Managers are supposed to take care of the employees for the office to work well. Now, when employees’ opinions and attitudes clash with one another, there might be a cause for disruption of work and this is not advisable, ever. So to keep things and work in order, my responsibility should not only encompass the welfare of the employees themselves but also the welfare of the office and their job as well. Some things like this are unavoidable though. One must understand that many people are born with different sets of values and traditions. They also grew with different communities so they have a lot of differences when it comes to social activities and how they treat people, in general. Managers are the leaders, and as leaders, it is my responsibility to hear out the problems of the people who work with me. Sometimes, work-related gender issues are all because of miscommunication. No one actually means harm, but then the other party thought that the other person tries to take advantage. As a manager, I have to take a stand with regards to gender inclusion and the like. I mean, sure there are fundamental differences between male and female employees. But it should be recognized that women employees (in the US) are not as appreciated in the workplace as compared to the male workers. So for that I think I would put up a Women’s Advisory Committee to let them know that as a male manager, I also care about their welfare. Of course, it is worth noting that we should celebrate Women’s Month every year. Reference: Adams, Alice. Playing to Strength: Leveraging Gender at Work. Westport, CT: Praeger Press. 2009. Print. Read More