Assess the View That the Most Important Function of the Family Is to Socialise Children Into Appropriate Gender Roles
Assess the view that the most important function of the family is to socialise children into appropriate gender roles
Marxist feminists would agree with this statement and claim that this is a way for the Bourgeoisie to exploit women doubly as the family is patriarchal. For little girls they are trained into becoming good housewives mothers usually show them how to cook, clean and all household work and Ansley says this is because “women are the takers of shit”. They are also given dolls which they learn how to take care of it which indicates they would be the ones looking after the children when they are older and carries it on as women are the expressive ones. Boys are trained into becoming the instrumental leader as the fathers would show them DIY skills and always tell the sons to look after there sisters indicating that girls cannot look after themselves which is not necessarily true as girl can be nasty when it comes to fights. However this is only true if it was a nuclear, reconstituted or extended family because the children would need both a male and female role model in the house to follow.
Oakley has evidence for the claim. In 1982, Oakley identified four processes into how the family socialise children into their gender roles. One process is manipulation for example a father may discourage his child from crying. Another process is canalization where a parent gives a specific toy for their gender. Domestic activities e.g. housework is for women. Also verbal appellations where parents may reinforce cultural expectations e.g. using pretty for their daughters and handsome for their sons. Oakley may say that socialisation of children gender roles is the most important role because no matter what a child does in the family it is usually based on what their gender is. Although this may not be true for many families that just want their kids to grow up and work not specific to gender role. This piece of research is also era dependent as it is nearly 30
Marxist feminists would agree with this statement and claim that this is a way for the Bourgeoisie to exploit women doubly as the family is patriarchal. For little girls they are trained into becoming good housewives mothers usually show them how to cook, clean and all household work and Ansley says this is because “women are the takers of shit”. They are also given dolls which they learn how to take care of it which indicates they would be the ones looking after the children when they are older and carries it on as women are the expressive ones. Boys are trained into becoming the instrumental leader as the fathers would show them DIY skills and always tell the sons to look after there sisters indicating that girls cannot look after themselves which is not necessarily true as girl can be nasty when it comes to fights. However this is only true if it was a nuclear, reconstituted or extended family because the children would need both a male and female role model in the house to follow.
Oakley has evidence for the claim. In 1982, Oakley identified four processes into how the family socialise children into their gender roles. One process is manipulation for example a father may discourage his child from crying. Another process is canalization where a parent gives a specific toy for their gender. Domestic activities e.g. housework is for women. Also verbal appellations where parents may reinforce cultural expectations e.g. using pretty for their daughters and handsome for their sons. Oakley may say that socialisation of children gender roles is the most important role because no matter what a child does in the family it is usually based on what their gender is. Although this may not be true for many families that just want their kids to grow up and work not specific to gender role. This piece of research is also era dependent as it is nearly 30