Journal of Positive School Psychology http://journalppw.
com
2023, Vol. 7, No. 2, 124-132
Gender Stereotypes And Its Impact On Socialization Of
Children In Rawalakot Azad Kashmir
Isbah Nisar1 , Nighat younas2 , Saima aftab3
1
Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Poonch, Rawalakot, AJK Pakistan
2
Department of political sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Poonch, Rawalakot AJK Pakistan
3
Department of Pakistan studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Poonch, Rawalakot AJK Pakistan
[email protected]
Abstract
The study was conducted to identify the existence and impact of gender stereotypes in socialization of
children in Rawalakot Azad Kashmir. The nature of the study was quantitative. The educated parents in
Rawalakot were population of study. The teaching faculty of public sector schools and colleges in
Rawalakot Azad Kashmir were taken as sample of the study. A sample of 200 parents was chosen by using
purposive sampling techniques. To analyze the existence of stereotypical traits of gender in socialization
was the first objective of study. The second objective of the study was to examine the gender stereotyped
expectations of educated parents from their children. The researcher used a structured questionnaire for
collecting data from teaching faculty of schools and colleges. The questionnaire was administered herself
by the researcher to receive the responses of teaching faculty of schools and colleges. The frequency and
percentage were calculated by using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), in order to find the
average of the responses given by the respondents. These results were then tabulated and interpreted. The
findings revealed that the gender stereotypes exist in the socialization of children. The educated parents
also tend to have gender stereotypical expectations from their children. Existence of gender stereotypes
promotes gender inequalities and power imbalance between men and women. Parents should create
humorous environments where children may interact positively with both boys and girls.
Keywords: Gender Stereotypes, socialization, public sector, teaching faculty
Introduction gender development: biology, socialization and
When a new baby is born he is surrounded by his cognition. Researcher focused on socialization of
or her family. Parents tend to socialize their baby children.
as girl or boy. During early childhood, girls and At an early age, children tend to
boys spend much of their time in the home with demonstrate stereotyped beliefs about the gender
their families and look to parents and older roles that are dominant within their culture.
siblings for guidance. Parents play a vital role in Researchers have documented young children's
promotion of gender stereotypes. Parents treat tendency to "essentialism gender that is, to make
their children as a girl or boy right from start. assumptions about males and females based on
During early childhood children keenly observe their sex alone. Rigid adherence to stereotypical
their parents and follow the same role as modeled gender roles can have negative consequences in
by their parents. Children also follow the likes childhood and beyond, as these stereotypes can
and dislikes of their parents and elders. There are limit children's educational and occupational
three main perspectives on factors influencing aspirations. So, it is important to examine the
125 Journal of Positive School Psychology
factors that contribute to children's practices of • Do educated parents have gender
gender stereotyping. It is also likely that parents' discriminatory behavior with their
gendered behaviors that is, the extent to which a children?
parent performs activities that either enforce or • Do the gender stereotypes create gender
defy gender stereotypes play a role in shaping inequality?
their children's gender-role attitudes. Despite
substantial evidence that both parents' ideologies Research results
and performance of gendered labor predict
children's gender-role attitudes, it is unclear Parents’ gender-stereotypical
whether children attend more to ideological or expectations
behavioral messages as they develop beliefs Parents tend to have gender stereotypical
about gender roles and the relationship between expectations from their children. Parents do not
sex and gender. like cross gender behavior of their children.
Parents have different expectations from their
Key Research Questions children regarding their sex. They expect their
While evaluating the influence of educated baby girls not to go outside the home without any
parents on gender stereotyped socialization of reason and not to play with boys. This kind of
children, following questions were significant: expectations is only for females. Parents also
• Do educated parents be likely to have expect their daughters to do house work and assist
gender-stereotypical expectations from their mothers in kitchen and other tasks while
their children? they do not expect such deeds from their sons.
• Do educated parents tend to have gender- Parents expect their sons to deal the matters
stereotyped behaviors in the socialization outside the home or to bring the accessories from
of their children? the market. Parents were asked about the
dominance of boys at and submissiveness of girls.
Distribution of respondents about dominance of boys
Response Frequency Percentage
Strongly Agree 64 23.0
Agree 58 29.0
Uncertain 34 17.0
Disagree 50 25.0
Strongly Disagree 12 6.0
Total 200 100.0
Isbah Nisar 126
Distribution of respondents about dominance of boys
Strongly Agree Agree Uncertain Disagree Strongly Disagree
1% 5%
10%
36%
48%
Distribution of respondents about submissiveness of girls
Response Frequency Percentage
Strongly Agree 38 19.0
Agree 96 48.0
Uncertain 30 15.0
Disagree 32 16.0
Strongly Disagree 4 2.0
Total 200 100.0
127 Journal of Positive School Psychology
Distribution of Respondents about submissiveness of
girls
Strongly Agree Agree Uncertain Disagree Strongly Disagree
1% 5%
10%
36%
48%
Gender-stereotyped behavior of children dislike their behavior. If the boys wear girl’s
Parents not only expect but also like the gender dresses or bangles parents dislike and discourage
stereotyped behavior of their children. If them likewise all the opposite sex related actions
daughters do some housework or female type are discouraged by parents. Parents were asked
activity they appreciate their daughters. But if the that should boys play competitive games and
girls dress up like boys or play with boy’s parents should the girls play girl type games?
Distribution of respondents about competitive sports of boys
Response Frequency Percentage
Strongly Agree 36 18.0
Agree 114 57.0
Uncertain 24 12.0
Disagree 20 10.0
Strongly Disagree 6 3.0
Total 200 100.0
Isbah Nisar 128
Distribution of respondents about competitive sports
of boys
Strongly Agree Agree Uncertain Disagree Strongly Disagree
1% 5%
10%
36%
48%
Distribution of respondents about games for girls
Response Frequency Percentage
Strongly Agree 78 39.0
Agree 78 39.0
Uncertain 32 16.0
Disagree 8 4.0
Strongly Disagree 4 2.0
Total 200 100.0
129 Journal of Positive School Psychology
Distribution of Respondents about Games for Girls
Strongly Agree Agree Uncertain Disagree Strongly Disagree
1% 5%
10%
36%
48%
Gender Discriminatory behavior of education is important both for girls and boys.
Educated Parents One more commonly followed stereotype that
Parents show gender discriminatory behavior to girls should marry in early ages is also denied by
their children. They follow all the most educated parents, they said that girls should first
commonly followed gender stereotypes. The complete their qualification then they should
commonly followed stereotype is that the career marry. However, evidence suggests that some
education is important more for boys as compare parents are more tolerant of cross-gender-typed
to girls and boys should be encouraged to go to behaviors in sons than seen in earlier decades.
college rather than girls. The educated parents Respondents were asked that should the girls do
argued that girls should also have career house work and should the boys have more
education as well as higher education and the charge than girls at home?
Distribution of Respondents about Housework of Girls
Response Frequency Percentage
Strongly Agree 60 30.0
Agree 68 34.0
Uncertain 8 4.0
Disagree 48 24.0
Strongly Disagree 16 8.0
Isbah Nisar 130
Total 200 100.0
Distribution of Respondents about Housework of Girls
Strongly Agree Agree Uncertain Disagree Strongly Disagree
1% 5%
10%
36%
48%
Distribution of Respondents about Charge of Boys at Home
Response Frequency Percentage
Strongly Agree 60 30.0
Agree 62 31.0
Uncertain 20 10.0
Disagree 42 21.0
Strongly Disagree 16 8.0
Total 200 100.0
131 Journal of Positive School Psychology
Distribution of Respondents about Charge of Boys at
Home
Strongly Agree Agree Uncertain Disagree Strongly Disagree
1% 5%
10%
36%
48%
Gender Inequality and boys and it builds a barrier in gender equality.
Gender stereotypes impacts the socialization of Parents were asked that either gender stereotypes
children it creates huge differences among girls based socialization creates discrimination?
Distribution of Respondents regarding Gender Discrimination
Response Frequency Percentage
Strongly Agree 72 36.0
Agree 96 48.0
Uncertain 2 1.0
Disagree 20 10.0
Strongly Disagree 10 5.0
Total 200 100.0
Isbah Nisar 132
Distribution of Respondents regarding Gender
Discrimination
Strongly Agree Agree Uncertain Disagree Strongly Disagree
1% 5%
10%
36%
48%
Conclusions 1. Blakemore, J. and C. Hill, 2008. The
Dramatic transformations in women’s and men’s Child Gender Socialization Scale: A
roles have occurred during the last half century in measure to compare traditional and
most of the industrialized world. The traditional feminist parents, 58,192-207.
gender stereotypes are still followed in the 2. Fulcher, M., E. Sutfin. And C. Patterson.
socialization of children. But the education 2007. Individual differences in gender
brought few changes in the mindset of parents. development:
Educated parents now prefer education for both 3. Gooden, A. M. and M. Gooden. 2001.
girls and boys equally and provide equal Gender representation in notable
opportunities for education to both girls and boys. children's picture books: 1995-1999. Sex
But other than education the educated parents Roles, 45, 89-101.
also become traditional parents and follow gender 4. Associations with parental sexual
stereotypes in socialization of children. Existence orientation, attitudes, and division of
of gender stereotypes promotes gender labor. Sex Roles, 58, 330-341.
inequalities and power imbalance between men 5. Ruble, D. N., C. Martin. and S.
and women. Parents should create humorous Berenbaum. 2009. Gender development.
environments where children may interact Social, emotional, and personality
positively with both boys and girls. development 3(6):.858-932.
6. Wood, E. 2002. The impact of parenting
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