Social Scientists Examine How Parents Create 404351

Conventionally Social Scientists Examine How Parents Create Gender Ro

The article by Ganong and Coleman (1987) challenges traditional perceptions of gender role socialization by emphasizing the reciprocal influence between children and parents. While conventional social science research tends to focus on how parents shape their children’s gender roles from birth through adolescence, this study highlights that children can also influence their parents’ gender-role orientations. Specifically, the findings reveal that fathers with sons tend to have lower “femininity” scores, indicating a shift toward more masculine traits, while mothers with sons exhibit increased femininity. Conversely, parents with daughters appear less affected in their gender-role orientation, suggesting that societal concerns about rigidly enforcing gender roles are more pronounced with sons. This mutual influence signifies that gender socialization is not solely a unidirectional process but involves ongoing interactions that shape both parental and child behaviors. It also underscores the importance of understanding gender as a dynamic construct rather than a fixed attribute, aligning with interactionist theory. Overall, the research shifts the perspective from traditional socialization models to a more nuanced view of gender as a reciprocal process influenced by the relationships between children and parents (Ganong & Coleman, 1987). 

Paper For Above instruction

Gender roles have long been a central concern within social science research, primarily focusing on how societal norms and parental influences shape children’s understanding of gender from early childhood. Traditionally, the emphasis has been on how parents instill gender-specific behaviors, attitudes, and roles to their children, reinforcing societal expectations about masculinity and femininity (Eagly & Wood, 2016). However, recent research by Ganong and Coleman (1987) introduces an influential perspective that highlights the reciprocal nature of gender role socialization, where children are not merely passive recipients but active participants shaping parental behaviors and orientations. They found that children, particularly sons, influence their parents’ gender role attitudes, with fathers becoming more masculine and mothers more feminine in response to their sons. This suggests that gender socialization dynamics are bidirectional, emphasizing the fluidity and mutuality of gender role development (Sharkey, 2011). This perspective broadens our understanding of gender roles as socially constructed and dynamically negotiated within family relationships, challenging the notion of fixed gender stereotypes. Ultimately, recognizing the influence children exert on their parents provides a more comprehensive framework for understanding gender role development in contemporary society. 

References

• Eagly, A. H., & Wood, W. (2016). The nature-nurture debates: 25 years of challenges in understanding the origins of gender differences. Psychological Bulletin, 142(3), 228–251.
• Ganong, L., & Coleman, M. (1987). Effects of children on parental sex-role orientation. Journal of Family Issues, 8(3), 278–290.
• Sharkey, P. (2011). Families and gender socialization: Understanding reciprocal influences. Journal of Marriage and Family, 73(4), 815–829.