Conclusion
Children, Television and Gender Roles
A critical review of the available evidence concerning what influence television may have on the development of children's understanding of gender roles and of their own gender identity The society in which we live plays an enormous role in shaping the attitudes and behaviour of all those who are a part of it. Humans, as social beings, are constantly being bombarded with information from the environment which can influence the way we perceive the world and also shape our attitudes and beliefs, gradually moulding each and everyone of us into an 'accepted' member of society. In society today the television set, which is so prominent in so many households, is not only a means of entertainment, but is also an important source of information. Television presents to its attentive audience a certain image of the world, providing a framework for what is acceptable and what is unacceptable in society, and also sends out implicit and explicit messages of what the world is like. Bibliography
What media teach kids about gender can have lasting effects, report says
Story highlights Gender stereotypes are incredibly effective at teaching boys and girls what the culture expects Luckily, parents can assert control over the messages that Hollywood dishes out Gender stereotypes are messing with your kid. It’s not just one movie. If you thought this stuff went out with Leave It to Beaver, the new Common Sense Media report, Watching Gender: How Stereotypes in Movies and on TV Impact Kids’ Development, will put you right back in June Cleaver’s kitchen. According to the report, which analyzed more than 150 articles, interviews, books, and other social-scientific research, gender stereotypes in movies and on TV shows are more than persistent; they’re incredibly effective at teaching kids what the culture expects of boys and girls. What makes these messages stick – and harder for parents to counteract – is that they’re timed for the precise moment in kids’ development when they’re most receptive to their influence. Media to support your kid’s gender identity
Understanding gender roles and stereotype
Gender Roles in Media
Media plays a large role in creating social norms, because various forms of media, including advertisements, television, and film, are present almost everywhere in current culture. Gender roles, as an example, exist solely because society as a whole chooses to accept them, but they are perpetuated by the media. Conspicuous viewers must be aware of what the media is presenting to them, and make sure they’re not actively participating in a culture of oppression. Even on young children, gender roles are being pushed through advertisements. Television is the most pervasive form of media, with 96.7 percent of American families owning a TV, according to The Nielsen Company, which takes TV set ownership into account when it produces ratings. For example, The Big Bang Theory, in its earlier seasons, had only one consistently present female lead — Penny, played by the lovely Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting. There’s nothing wrong with accepting gender roles.
What is media and the relationship with children
How can parents assist in their child's understanding of gender roles?
4.3.1 Distinction between ‘Sex’ and ‘Gender’
The terms ‘sex' and ‘gender' are closely linked, yet they are not synonyms. Robert Stoller, in the 1960s, has drawn the distinction between them. He suggested that the word ‘sex' be used to refer to the physical differences between men and women, while the term ‘gender' be used in connection to the behaviour and cultural practices of men and women. This distinction is the basis for all the definitions of ‘sex' and ‘gender' that are provided in the literature nowadays. Definition of "Sex" The term ‘sex' is easy to understand. Definition of "Gender" "Gender refers to the cultural, socially-constructed differences between the two sexes. [Browne, 1992, p78]. In simple words, gender refers to differences in attitudes and behaviour, and these differences are perceived as a product of the socialisation process rather than of biology. Viewing gender as a socially-constructed phenomenon implies that gender, contrary to sex, is not the same over the world. [Giddens, 1989]
Countering influence by media for parents
Impacts on media influence on the children
10 Ways to Avoid Gender Stereotyping in Children
Last week, while walking to my son's preschool, we saw two rabbits in a field. We cooed and oohed and ahhed and giggled at just how frickin' cute they were for a few moments, when I thought I'd better seize the opportunity for some counting practice. "Can you count how many rabbits you can see on the grass?" "One, two, three, four..." While I'd no idea where three and four were, I was reminded of Steve Biddulph's assertion - in his book Raising Girls - that boys and girls are encouraged to look at the world differently; boys through numbers and logic, and girls through beauty and feelings. Inspired, I asked on my blog's Facebook page for some ideas. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
What is gender stereotype?
How Toys Impact Children's Development | WeHaveKids
Children Learn Quickly: a Short Lesson in Neuroplasticity Children are extremely fast learners. For newborns, the world is a flood of information and they absorb it like a sponge. Connections between neurons in the brain called 'synapses' form, and because children have the ability to take in large amounts of information, the number of connections in a young child's brain (particularly babies and toddlers) are far greater than an adult's. This is because, unlike adult brains which ignore irrelevant information, the developing brain takes in everything, and forms neural connections that are virtually useless. Children go through sensitive learning periods, or 'critical periods', in which they are particularly sensitive to certain information. While some skills and systems require development in their respective critical learning period(s), others can be learned later in life. Children Are Impressionable Toys and Stereotypes Influence Children's Development They found:
