Julie is 7 months pregnant, and she has learned from a test that she is having a girl. Her family and friends are throwing her a
baby shower. The color scheme for the shower is pink and white. She receives many gifts from the guests that coincide with this color scheme—pink and white baby toys, towels, blankets, and sheets for the baby’s crib, and many clothes including dresses, headbands, and shoes for her new baby. Based on this scenario, what would a sociologist who studies gender most likely conclude?
The baby shower is an example of gender socialization.
Gender socialization is the learning of behavior which is considered appropriate for the given gender. For example, boys learn to behave like boys and girls learn to behave like a girl. Gender socialization can vary depending upon society and their beliefs and values. Family is one of the important factors for gender socialization but friends, mass media, Office can also affect the gender in countless subtle or nonsubtle ways.
