Gender Socialization Starts Early

04/12/2005

Gender Socialization Starts Early

"It is not easy to find happiness within ourselves, but it is not possible to find it elsewhere." - Agnes Repplier

Gender Socialization Starts Early

In her introduction to the Consultative Group's Coordinators' Notebook No. 20, "Gender Socialization: Early Years," Judith Evans makes the following comments:

"In most countries, girls and boys are raised from the beginning to take on very different roles, and to exhibit different characteristics. In some cases, the expected behaviours of girls may make them more likely to succeed in schooling than boys, in other cases, the expectations of girls preclude their real participation in education. Although there is much good will to address the inequities of opportunities for girls and women to receive basic education in many societies, it cannot be assumed that educated women will be embraced by their culture or easily take on new roles. Education cannot magically 'erase' all gender inequities or resolve the problems created as traditional roles disintegrate, and both women and men are left uncertain as to how they can successfully meet their needs. In other words, while girl's participation in education is important, it needs to be addressed within the context of each country's values, goals and childbearing practices -- it is necessary to identify the gender socialization patterns which will support or impede the successful participation of girls and boys (and women and men) in changing societies.

By the time a child reaches school age, she or he is firmly rooted in a gender identity, which brings with it a whole set of expectations about behaviour and character. Yet most of the research on gender socialization does not look at this early, pre-schooling development, nor does most childbearing research focus on the development of gender traits...."

This entire Coordinators' Notebook, "Gender Socialization...," can be downloaded at the web site for the Consultative Group at: http://www.ecdgroup.com/issue_20_Gender_socialization_early_years.asp

One of the sessions at the 2005 World Forum will be "Global Issues around Girls/Women," where women from around the world will share their stories.

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