how children are learning gender roles in our society.
Video 1: Interviews with Kids on Gender Roles
Video 1: Interviews with Kids on Gender Roles
Video 1 is not captioned, so below is a description of Video 1.
The film clip looks at the ways in which children understand gender roles. The interviewer begins by explaining that children often know if they are a boy or a girl by the age of 2, and by the age of 4 understand the specific gender roles that are associated with that sex. The purpose of the interviews with these young children then is to show that children have a strong sense of gender identity and gender role expectations.
The interviewer first asks each of the children about what is appropriate male and female behavior and dress. The interviewer asks ìdo boys put on dressesî and do boys have long hair or short hair,î to which the young children reply no, and long hair, reflecting the rigid gender expectations. The interviewer then asks the children if they are a boy or a girl, which the child knows no hesitation. Also, if they will ever become the opposite sex, to which the children laugh and say no. The interviewer then asks the difference between boys and girls, to which the children say that ìboys donít wear girls clothesî and ìgirls donít wear boys clothesî and if they do wear the wrong clothes then they say everyone will laugh at them. Some of the children, when asked about the differences between boys and girls also answer with ìboys are better than girls, because they are stronger than girls.î
The interviewer next holds up a female Barbie and a male Ken doll and asked the children to identify the girl and the boy (which they easily do). The interview then asks questions about the appropriate activities for each of the dolls such as ìwhich doll likes to clean the house,î ìwhich doll takes care of the babiesî (which all the children point to the female doll) and ìwhich doll goes to workî (which all the children point to the male).
Video 2: Gender Stereotypes in Children’s Movies
http://digital.films.com/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=49445&loid=191460
Video 1: Interviews with Kids on Gender Roles;
People are socialized according to their culture. Part of this socialization is learning gender roles. some
researchers argue that gender roles are ingrained. The difference between boys and girls as far as their
likes, dislikes, and behaviors are biologically based. Sociologists argue however that socialization plays a
large part in the way in which boys and girls behave. Sociologists see society as teaching specific roles and
behaviors to boys and girls.For this assignment consider the gender roles in the two films included below.
The first of the films looks at how little boys and girls understand their gender, and the roles that are
expected from it. The second film talks about rejecting gender stereotypes. In watching these films think.