Table of contentsIntroductionChildhoodAdolescenceYoung adultAdultConclusionIntroductionGender is a social construction intended to explain the biological differences between men and women. In this case, gender is being male or female. Even though it is determined by the sex of the individual, gender defines masculinity and femininity. Ultimately, gender dictates the social roles of different sexes; the masculine is associated with masculinity and the feminine with femininity. Traits associated with masculinity include courage, assertiveness, the need for power, authority and independence. Femininity is associated with care, gentleness, warmth, empathy and sensitivity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Gender socialization is one of the most important aspects of society. The roles are clearly known and boys and girls are treated differently from birth and are expected to pass on the same to the next generation. Gender socialization occurs through four primary institutions and agents: family, peers, media, and education.ChildhoodTo be a man means to have the physical appearance of a man; having muscles, a deep voice and a masculine sexual orientation while being a man means having courage, confidence and dominance. Physical characteristics translate into social roles and expectations. For me as a young boy, many actions were encouraged and others were not. I was always dressed in blue and if I wanted something pink I was warned against it. Apparently blue is for boys and pink is for girls. My parents bought me toy cars, toy guns (water guns) and were encouraged to play outside in the mud and grass. These toys and games were intended to promote solitary play, aggression and improve motor skills. On the other hand, my sisters were encouraged to play with dolls, pretend to cook, have tea parties, and play in doorways to avoid getting dirty. These games would promote a feeling of education. From the beginning, I knew that being a boy meant being sturdy, tough and courageous, while being a girl meant being a housewife and a good host. I remember one time when I was playing with the other boys and we challenged each other to climb to the top of a tree and the ones who were afraid were criticized because they were "acting like girls and couldn’t fit in with the rest of us.” This incident made me realize that being a boy meant overcoming my fear and being brave even when I wasn't asked. I remember watching the movie called Express; about how American football was revolutionized in the 1950s and it was clear that while the girls were worrying about having their nail polish ruined, the boys were running around, hurting themselves and sometimes injuring themselves for sports and coming back when even on the ground. There was a certain sense of accomplishment in being part of a team where injuries, injuries or hospitalizations were commonplace. Girls were more sensitive while boys took risks. I always loved being a boy, because it meant running after each other through mud and rain, building tree houses, watching horror movies and sometimes reenacting them, showcasing the backyard garden. neighbor. fire, steal useless objects and build what seemed useful to us. At that age, we never really cared about social class, wejust wanted to take risks and get thrills from it. For boys, everything is a challenge and sometimes we got into serious trouble. The only thing that was clear was that differences were to be settled with a fight and a handshake and no hard feelings were left behind. The strongest boy, the leader, was the one who was strong enough to defeat us in any task and brave enough to take risks. The toys were our own creativity. There was never really any concern about meeting society's expectations. Being a boy for us, and personally for me, was second nature. All I had to do was make sure I never got started too. I had a very hard time avoiding being punished and locked in the house. Adolescence Once I became a teenager, my concept of gender changed and I became confused. Apparently, according to society, there are boy and man behaviors but adolescence is a gray area. I remember that, unlike my childhood, when I was a teenager I didn't know what was expected of me and, from time to time, I found myself in trouble. My parents tried to talk to me about the bodily changes I was experiencing and how they would affect the person I would become. It was difficult for me to speak openly to them about my concerns because all I could see was authority and punishment. I would in turn discuss issues with my peers who didn't seem to know much, and we were more likely to mislead. each other. I wanted more freedom to choose what to do, what to wear, who to interact with and I really emphasized privacy. At that time, social class played a major role, as I could only mix with teenagers of my social class. Schools offered sex education to teenagers, but this information left me with more questions than answers. I was lucky to have a good neighbor, a former soldier who always prided himself on serving his country. He was my role model. He told me everything there was to say about being a teenager and what was expected of me when I grew up and became a man. We talked about career choices and he discouraged me from pursuing careers in hospitality, nursing and human resources; it was too feminine. He encouraged me to become a firefighter, engineer, soldier or pilot; male careers for men. He encouraged me to notice young girls and if possible to talk to them. To approach a girl, I needed to be confident and decisive, because men don't doubt themselves. He told me to run for school captain and when I told him I was afraid of losing, he told me that real men are not afraid of losing, but that they have rather afraid of passing up an opportunity to try. I remember how he taught. taught me how to drive a car, he told me that confidence and understanding the art was all I needed. To this day, his advice still comes to mind in almost everything I do. From my mentor, I learned that confidence, bravery and courage were not a choice to be a man, but a requirement. It was then that I understood why boys in some African communities undergo painful initiation processes that are supposed to transform them from boys to men. They are forced to go through painful experiences and are expected to endure pain. Now I understood that boys actually felt pain, that they endured it simply to meet society's expectations; to be accepted and understood as a man. During this time, I remember wishingmuch more than I had and I would envy those who had more than me. This led me to seek approval from those who had what I wanted. Here peer pressure became real and I was doing things I never would have done before. I would question almost everything, including parental authority. Without proper mentoring, teenagers who have been taught by society to never be afraid to try something new can easily fall prey to crime. At this point I was tempted to try alcohol, drugs, different dress codes and even crime. However, my mentor always talked to me and brought me back to reality. I also believed that girls had it easy compared to boys. All they had to do was look pretty and they could be invited to any dance or party, but for me it was all about knowing the right person and acting cool.Young AdultEn as a young adult, I had come to terms with the fact that I was now a man and adolescence. taught me that choices have consequences. If I wanted something, I would have to work hard to get it; there are simply no shortcuts in life. I had learned that a man doesn't complain about not having something, rather he finds a way to get it. I saw myself as the ultimate decision maker in my life and that peer pressure and the opinions of others were meant to distract and that advice was consequential. In most relationships I had, whether friendly or even family, I had learned to be assertive in communicating what I wanted, therefore, if I felt oppressed, I would quickly end it . Being a man also means being responsible by paying the bill at the end of a date with a girl, dropping her off at home and making sure she gets home safely, keeping a stable job and helping around the house by fixing things. Conversely, I felt bad about cooking, serving, cleaning and even doing laundry, these are more feminine tasks that I can only do if I have no choice. My neighbor and my parents made significant contributions to influence my understanding of gender. role and how society expects me to be. My parents made me understand what is right and what is wrong and that I am responsible for my actions. As a young man, they showed me that to be a man is to be brave and courageous at the same time warm and gentle in different situations. I have to understand and access the situation and then choose the kind of man I want to be. As a young adult, in the spirit of choosing a manly education, I chose physical and social sciences and easily closed the door to several careers, but at the same time opened the doors to careers that can impact and change people's lives. As a young adult, I could notice power, status because I had begun to see the consequences of choices and actions. Teenagers who have decided to assert themselves and enjoy some form of independence never feel enough peer pressure to ruin their lives. Being able to afford everything necessary has challenged me to work hard to become a better person.AdultCurrently, as a grown man, I believe there are no closed doors for me; the career I choose is based on my passion and not on the role society believes I should play. I am exposed to a world of possibilities and I can achieve whatever I set out to achieve. Perceived closed doors are a state of mind. I believe I have been blessed with the necessary personality traits that today's society needs to.