Socialization and Performativity of Gender

Gender norms are fictional ideologies that have been built around socialization and performativity. Socialization in general is the way society learns how to behave according to what is deemed to be acceptable. Gender socialization is a theory that derives general theories of socialization that pertain to gender. In the act of socialization, these theories influence children in an attempt to train that individual to be a key member of society. Gender role socialization theory believes that individuals observe and eventually internalize and produce specific attitudes and behaviors that culture defines as appropriate. As a child grows, they encounter many people and factors that gradually help them to properly function in society. These everyday traits almost become a habitus for most which is why we play the roles of gender so well because it is so heavily repeated that it becomes so normal to us, like eating and breathing. However, the problem with socialization of gender is that these social norms that our culture has been shaped around do not pertain to all individuals. As a result, the notion behind gender has caused segregation and discrimination towards those that do not fit social standards. A main sector in an individual’s life that is a constant influencer of gender norms is one’s parents. In the 1970s there was a study conducted to see how parents respond to different genders. The theorist found that parents treated their boy and girl children very different in many areas. This included; extra-curricular activities, toys, bedroom décor, clothing and household chores. Due to this constant flow of gender norms repeatedly being embedded in the children’s daily lives, it became habitus to them, and they began to follow it without questioning it. Through evidence and studies, it is clear to see that these daily repetitive factors had a major impact on the child and their commonality of gender that fits gender norms. Through socialization, gender is constantly being reminded and engrained into children’s minds which only cause this ideology to keep repeating itself. In addition to socialization, performativity influences the structuring of gender. Performativity is the theory that being born a male or female does not cause people to behave a certain way, but it is the way in which we learn how to behave in a particular way that fits into society. The body of an individual matters and initiates the way in which the performativity occurs and is inscribed. Much of our preordained ideas about gender reflect the culture of a society and shape how the people living amongst it will experience the world. The behaviors of people can either be “girling” or “boying” and if the two are intertwined it is deemed to be incorrect. Due to the standards that have been set in place, children especially perform gender qualities even through their play. This constant repetition of gender social norms shapes the child, influencing them to only recognize two genders as oppose to more.  An example of this would be a woman growing out their underarm hair. This form of behavior is perceived as abnormal and shamed upon, since the woman is supposed to have no hair in that area. But who made it this way? Who decided what is normal and what is not? Who decided that she is a woman in the first place? These are the questions that people fail to ask due to the socialization and performativity that we are constantly fulfilling and conforming to. Ultimately, gender is a fictional ideology that is produced through socialization and cycled through performativity. Therefore, until gender stops being looked at as a binary concept, we will never be able to change the socially constructed perception of gender roles.