Gender Identity. Its Formation

Children learn at a very early age what it means to be a boy or a girl in our society. Through a myriad of activities, opportunities, encouragements, discouragements, overt behaviors, covert suggestions, and various forms of guidance, children experience the process of gender role socialization. It is difficult for a child to grow to adulthood without experiencing some form of gender bias, whether it be the expectation that boys are better than girls at math or the idea that only females can nurture children. As children grow and develop, the gender stereotypes they are exposed to at home are reinforced by other elements in their environment and are thus perpetuated throughout childhood and on into adolescence.

Introduction..............................................................................................3
What is male? What is female? Parents’ influence..................................4
Differences between the sexes.................................................................9
Boys and gender roles.............................................................................10
Girls and gender roles.............................................................................11
Conclusions.............................................................................................13
Bibliography............................................................................................14