The document discusses how family influences gender roles. It notes that children begin developing their gender identity between ages 2-3 and learn gender roles through observing their family. Gender roles are defined by the social and cultural norms of society. The family plays a key role in socializing children into gender roles through parental modeling and parent-child interactions. While media historically portrayed the nuclear family as the norm, modern media now shows more diverse family structures. The document examines how various social institutions like politics, work, religion, and media intersect with and influence the family system.

1. Chapter 7Chapter 7
Chapter 7Chapter 7
-Bridget O’Brien-Bridget O’Brien

2. ““Family is an influential source about Gender”Family is an influential source about Gender”
We differ in terms of race, age, ability, and family structure. Some of usWe differ in terms of race, age, ability, and family structure. Some of us
grew up in big families and some grew up in small. Some were raised bygrew up in big families and some grew up in small. Some were raised by
one, two or three parents. Every Family is different and gender plays aone, two or three parents. Every Family is different and gender plays a
huge role in each.huge role in each.

3. Gender RolesGender Roles
““refers to feminine and masculine social expectations in a family based on a person’srefers to feminine and masculine social expectations in a family based on a person’s
sex.”sex.”
Many children find gender roles through their family. Gender roles are defined byMany children find gender roles through their family. Gender roles are defined by
the socio-cultural norms of any society.the socio-cultural norms of any society.
““Gender role socialization: largely takes place in the family, particularly via parentalGender role socialization: largely takes place in the family, particularly via parental
modeling and parent-child interaction (Turner & West, 2006).”modeling and parent-child interaction (Turner & West, 2006).”

4. Children begin to gain gender identity between the ages of 2 and 3. AfterChildren begin to gain gender identity between the ages of 2 and 3. After
time children begin to pick specific qualities once they have beentime children begin to pick specific qualities once they have been
socialized to want them.socialized to want them.

5. Family as a Social InstitutionFamily as a Social Institution
Three important points:Three important points:
To provide for the rearing of childrenTo provide for the rearing of children
To provide a sense of identity or belonging among its membersTo provide a sense of identity or belonging among its members
To transmit culture between generationTo transmit culture between generation

6. Nuclear FamilyNuclear Family
Western Societies; tend to see a family as consisting of a mother, father and childrenWestern Societies; tend to see a family as consisting of a mother, father and children
who live under one roof.- Nuclear familywho live under one roof.- Nuclear family
Before societies began to modernize, families consisted of several generations ofBefore societies began to modernize, families consisted of several generations of
extended family living in the same area/village.extended family living in the same area/village.

7. Most families are not NuclearMost families are not Nuclear
U.S SURVEYS SHOW-
38% of marriages end in divorce
about 75% of divorced persons remarry with a 60% chance of divorce
50% of marriages occurring this year are expected to end in divorce
close to 30% of homes are headed by a single adult
In most two-parent homes, both parents work outside the home
As modernization occurs, young people tend to move away from the villages in which they were raised in search of jobs,
leaving the older generations behind. They move to cities and meet people they probably never would have met had they
stayed home.
People in modernized, urbanized societies meet spouses on their own, rather than being introduced by family members, and
marry and settle down in locations that are often far from their original communities.

8. Family in MediaFamily in Media
During the early 60’s certain media outlets helped portray the norm of a nuclearDuring the early 60’s certain media outlets helped portray the norm of a nuclear
media.media.
Now during the Modern day media outlets we have shows that promote the completeNow during the Modern day media outlets we have shows that promote the complete
opposite of the nuclear family.opposite of the nuclear family.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5uuMr1YEyEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5uuMr1YEyE

9. Interlocking InstitutionsInterlocking Institutions
““The way a family tends to work or function isThe way a family tends to work or function is
related to the social systems of the outsiderelated to the social systems of the outside
world.”world.”
MythMyth: Nuclear Family is self sufficient.: Nuclear Family is self sufficient.
RealityReality: work, religion, social services, media,: work, religion, social services, media,
law, schools and extended family influence it.law, schools and extended family influence it.

10. Interlocking IntuitionsInterlocking Intuitions
Politics Work
Compulsory
Heterosexuality
Politics and law usually refer to
the nuclear family as the
norm in society.
They use the slogan of family
values.
“Family values: are political
and social beliefs that hold
the nuclear family to be
the essential unit of
society.”
The most distinguished showing
of gender role is the division of
household labor between the
gendered sex.
A survey shows that wives in
heterosexual relationships spend
between 5 and 13.5 hrs. more a
week doing housework than their
husbands.
The idea that there is only one
way to love and one way to form
a a family. The common norm
that is among us in our society.
Politics Work

11. Family Constructs (and Constrains) Gender

12. Continued ..Continued ..
Communication in the family constructs gender.Communication in the family constructs gender.
The book states that relationships in the family areThe book states that relationships in the family are
influenced by past family experiences and larger socialinfluenced by past family experiences and larger social
forces.forces.

13. Parent Child CommunicationParent Child Communication
““One Primary function of the family is to teach and maintain cultural norms, including genderOne Primary function of the family is to teach and maintain cultural norms, including gender
norms and roles.”norms and roles.”

14. Social Learning ModelSocial Learning Model
“People, especially children, learn from the environment and seek acceptance from society by learning through influential
models.”
When you become a parent from day one you have a physical and emotional bond with your child that no one else
understands. While growing up the child unconsciously learns through gender roles by observing how their parents act on a
daily basis.

15. Gender/ Sex Interactions: Parents InfluenceGender/ Sex Interactions: Parents Influence
Parents interact and raise their children differently depending on theParents interact and raise their children differently depending on the
gender/ sex of the child. For example, daughters are rewarded for beinggender/ sex of the child. For example, daughters are rewarded for being
respectful whereas sons are rewarded for physical accomplishments.respectful whereas sons are rewarded for physical accomplishments.
Gender Identities are formed by children by observing and interactingGender Identities are formed by children by observing and interacting
with their parents. Children do play an active role in selecting theirwith their parents. Children do play an active role in selecting their
gender, which stated in a previous slide starts around the ages of 2 andgender, which stated in a previous slide starts around the ages of 2 and
3.3.

16. Adult Friends & LoversAdult Friends & Lovers
From a young age children are taught about the importance of heterosexual marriage. TheseFrom a young age children are taught about the importance of heterosexual marriage. These
ideologies mainly come from the idea of the nuclear family.ideologies mainly come from the idea of the nuclear family.
Children grow up playing marriage and people around the world are socialized to want marriage.Children grow up playing marriage and people around the world are socialized to want marriage.
Friendships: Same sex friendships is more socially accepted than cross sex friendship becauseFriendships: Same sex friendships is more socially accepted than cross sex friendship because
of the threat of dating and marriage.of the threat of dating and marriage.

17. Dating RelationshipsDating Relationships
-Heterosexual dating relationships are-Heterosexual dating relationships are
frequently and most studied non maritalfrequently and most studied non marital
relationship.relationship.
-There are expectations which is the main-There are expectations which is the main
reason that the intimacy of relationships fail.reason that the intimacy of relationships fail.
-Media plays a huge role on a romantic-Media plays a huge role on a romantic
couple: playing the roles ofcouple: playing the roles of
a strong man and beautiful women.a strong man and beautiful women.
-Women are expected to take a good-Women are expected to take a good
amount on time to get ready and makeamount on time to get ready and make
themselves be attracted to men.themselves be attracted to men.
-Studies show women look more at a-Studies show women look more at a
mans personality for a relationshipmans personality for a relationship
whereas men focus on the physicalwhereas men focus on the physical
attraction of their spouse.attraction of their spouse.

18. Marital CommunicationMarital Communication
Marital communicationMarital communication is the most studied interpersonal relationshipis the most studied interpersonal relationship
Demand/ withdrawalDemand/ withdrawal Pattern: partner who most wants change demands and the one whoPattern: partner who most wants change demands and the one who
resists change withdraws which then does not resolve the conflict.resists change withdraws which then does not resolve the conflict.
Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence: Unfortunately domestic violence in the family happens more than we: Unfortunately domestic violence in the family happens more than we
know/believe. Men being known as the physical opponent in our social norms is mostly know toknow/believe. Men being known as the physical opponent in our social norms is mostly know to
be the perpetrator, while women and children are the victims.be the perpetrator, while women and children are the victims.

19.  Domestic Violence Facts:
 Every day in the US, 4 children die as a result of child
abuse and neglect.
 Every day, 4 women are murdered by their husbands or
boyfriends.
 Women are 10 times more likely than men to be a victim
of domestic violence.
 Yearly, over 4 million children are abused or neglected by
family members.
 1 in 4 women report they have been raped or physically
assaulted by an intimate partner.

20. Emancipatory Families
This is where family members feel loved, accepted and are able to growThis is where family members feel loved, accepted and are able to grow
to their fullest potential while feeling safe and having a positiveto their fullest potential while feeling safe and having a positive
atmosphere.atmosphere.

21. While reading this chapter the common theme is the expectations through aWhile reading this chapter the common theme is the expectations through a
nuclear family. We learn that how we act and parent our children come fromnuclear family. We learn that how we act and parent our children come from
a lot of interlocking institutions discussed in this chapter. A lot of thesea lot of interlocking institutions discussed in this chapter. A lot of these
institutions come from social systems such as media and what our societyinstitutions come from social systems such as media and what our society
sees as the social norms. Everyday we all learn through social learning andsees as the social norms. Everyday we all learn through social learning and
modeling whether it be directly from our parents or watching a televisionmodeling whether it be directly from our parents or watching a television
show. Generation after generation our parents teach us at a young ageshow. Generation after generation our parents teach us at a young age
what is expected in the family life we grow up in. I believe after reading thiswhat is expected in the family life we grow up in. I believe after reading this
chapter it is important to question on how we expect our child to grow upchapter it is important to question on how we expect our child to grow up
because our society needs to adapt to a more diverse environment. Overall,because our society needs to adapt to a more diverse environment. Overall,
family is extremely important because many children find their gender rolefamily is extremely important because many children find their gender role
through it.through it.