This document discusses gender roles and socialization within families. It states that families are the primary institution where gender roles are taught from a young age. It also outlines different family structures and notes that the nuclear family stereotype is a myth, as families come in many forms. The document explores various types of communication within families between parents and children, as well as couples, and how this socializes children's understanding of gender. It acknowledges more diverse and inclusive approaches to gender are emerging in families today.

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Gender Roles in the
Family
Morgan Brownlee

2. That starts with family

3.  Family is one of the primary places where people are taught
about gender, gender roles and gender socialization (Risman
1998)
 Gender is learned at a young age and begins within the family.

4.  A group consisting of
parents and their children
 United by marriage, blood
or adoption
 There are many different
family structures
 Family genders its members
and is organized along
gendered lines
Family is an institution

5.  Used to refer to feminine and masculine social expectations in a
family based on a person’s sex
Gender Roles

6. -There are many stereotypes we are expected to
follow
-Society expects children to follow gender norms

7. For a girl to play with a truck?
What makes it wrong…
Or a boy to play with
dolls?

8.  2 parent
 Single parent
 Extended
 Blended
 Stepfamilies
 LBGT
 Child-free families
 Non-biological families
of choice
Family Structures

9.  Stereotyped that is the
“norm” in family
structure
 Consists of 2 heterosexual
parents legally married
carrying out in separate
masculine and feminine
roles
Nuclear Family?

10.  The nuclear family is self-
sufficient when there are
other factors that influence
it; such as work or religion
 Some marriages end in
divorce
 Children will live in
blended families
 Families will have no kids
under the age of 18
 There is an assumption
that the nuclear family is
the “normal” family
Nuclear family is a myth

11.  Parent-child
communication
 Children’s
communication
 Couple
communication
Communicating in family

12.  Parents influence gender identity before the child is born
 Primary function is to teach and maintain culture norms
 Gender norm and roles
 Gendered role scripts
 Demand to abide by a specific role
Parent-child Communication

13.  Siblings influence gender
 Parents tend to give children gender specific toys
 Children gender/sex themselves
Child Communication
Studies show that girls with older
brother tend to have masculine
identities
Gender specific toys

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Domestic Communication
 Household work
 Studies show men tend to
do less house work than
woman
 Women and men have
increased involvement in
child care
Conflict Communication
 Demand/withdrawal
pattern
 One partner wants change
through complaining or
criticizing, the other partner
does not and withdraws by
avoiding or leaving the room
Couple Communication

15. - Parents are the most influential to their children
-Children are likely to model behaviors of who they admire
Gender Role Socialization

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As people construct their own
identities, they make more of an
effort to do so to make them more
socially acceptable
Social Accountability

17.  Single parents
 Play important role in larger society
 Engaged Fatherhood
 More emotionally involved
 Same Sex Parents
 No significant difference in children raised in
heterosexual families
 Raising Transgendered Children
 Accepting more diverse gender identities
Thriving Diverse Family Structures Today
*The key to all of these is to
provide a loving, supportive
and stable life for the children

18.  Parents take turns with
housework
 Ex. cooking and cleaning
 Encourage the child to do a
variety of activities
 Sports, theater etc.
 Gender inclusive toys
 Compliment a range of
attributes
 Educate thoughtfulness
 Encourage a variety of friends
 Not just same sex playmates
Gender Flexibility