Character Cards

2. Character Cards Devon Bailey

3. Character Cards Sam Terry

4. Character Cards Taylor Avery

5. Gender S cializati n By: Bethany, Kacy and Laryssa

6. Gender Socialization Refers to the learning of behavior and attitudes considered appropriate for a given sex. Gender roles are reinforced through countless subtle and not so subtle ways. Example: it used to be expected that men would experiment sexually before marriage, but that women would not. Women who went against this expectation were considered "loose" or "fallen" women, while men who went against the expectation were considered less than manly.

7. We are bombarded with messages of gender roles from the day we are born Television , magazines, war, books, marketing, sports, radio, fashion, commercial advertising, internet, fairytales, toys, our culture are just a few. Society validates gender roles and stereotypes, encouraging us to “fit in” to the dominant culture. Politics and economy are also influences For example, it wasn’t until the war brought about a shortage in male workers that women were encouraged to step outside the traditional housewife role to work.

8. Just a Few Examples • Babies tend to be colour coded from birth: girls in pink and boys in blue • The kinds of toys that little girls receive give messages about feminine traits such as; dolls, dress ups and fairies. • boys receive toys with messages of masculinity; cars, trucks and building blocks.

9. Everyday examples “Boy Aisle” “Girl Aisle”

10. http://issuu.com/vale-n-tina/docs/summarybook_issus

11. Early 20th Century Canada • While the men were off to war the women were expected to care for the household • Women (and children) were “seen and not heard” and treated as inferior to men • A women’s citizenship was tied to her husband’s citizenship both legally and for census purposes (not tabulated alone) • The children’s cultural heritage of only their fathers were counted, not their mother’s

12. 21st Century Canada • Nowadays, women are treated under much better circumstances • It is encouraged for them to be seen as equals to men • However, this is not always the case

13. Statistics • 1,000 Canadian youth between the ages of 12 and 17 including thousands from around the world were surveyed by Plan Canada • 91% believed in gender equality however, some youth still subscribe to gender stereotypes • 48% of the youth thought men should be responsible for earning income and providing for the family • 31% of the boys felt that a woman's most important role is to take care of her home and cook for the family. (U.K. only 15%)

14. Canadian Adults: • 43% said men should be responsible for earning income and providing for the family • 24% believe a woman's most important role is taking care of her home and cooking.

15. the survey also showed… • 45% of Canadian youth agree that "to be a man you need to be tough," (13% in the U.K., 26% in Rwanda) • 66 % of youth felt pressure from peers and friends to conform to traditional roles • Nearly 50% said the pressure came from media, while a third think it came from family.

16. "It's not working. We need boys and girls, men and women, parents and educators to really work on the issue of these traditional roles, because it puts us a lot of pressure on boys to "provide" for the family and it holds back girls from reaching their full potential.“ Rosemary McCarney

17. NegativeEffects • These sorts of stereotypes can prove harmful; they can stifle individual expression and creativity • They can hinder personal and professional growth • University of California, Santa Cruz says it well: “We have ample evidence to conclude that sexualisation has negative effects in a variety of domains, including cognitive functioning, physical and mental health, and healthy sexual development.”

18. MoreEffects • Directly relates to lack of self-esteem and body-confidence • The media influences have been linked to negative health outcomes, such as eating disorders and poor body image, anxiety, violence and depression • Many stress-related issues from the pressure to conform

19. What We Can Do • We have a choice of how we act and behave • One approach is androgyny, which is the blending of feminine and masculine attributes in the same individual. She or he can comfortably express the qualities of both genders. • Parents and other socializing agents can teach their children to be androgynous, just as they can teach them to be gender-biased.

20. Case Study #1 Mae is a 14 year old girl. For as long as she can remember, she has always played with her older brother's trucks and GI Joes, despite her mother's persistence to play Barbie and dress up. Mae refuses to wear skirts and dresses despite her mother’s insistence. Mae's father doesn't mind; however, her mother does not know whether this is a phase or permanent. She is extremely worried for her daughter.

21. Discuss If you were Mae's mother, would you agree with her father, and let her express herself the way she would like to, or would you steer her in another direction? Why do you think Mae's mother is so worried?

22. Case Study #2 Noel is a 6 year old boy who loves the color pink. Noel often bakes with his mother and steals her make up to play dress up. Noel's mother doesn't mind as much because she feels that he is the daughter she never had. His father on the other hand, is very upset, often calling him a 'sissy' while 'playfully' punching him in the arm. Noel feels sad when his father teases him, because it hurts him both physically and emotionally.

23. Discuss How would you react if you were in the same situation as Noel's parents? How would you treat Noel if he were your son?

24. Final Question How do you think both Mae and Noel feel about their parents opposed reactions? What do you think will happen to their development both mental/emotional when they are in their adolescent/adult years?