Family, Religion, and Gender Perception
Family, Religion, and Gender Perception
Introduction
How are gender roles learned? Gender itself refers to the socially constructed attributions that a given society considers appropriate for men and women and the outward expressions of what society considers “masculine” or “feminine.” In many ways, gender, in response to changing generational attitudes and societal norms and expectations, is neither innate nor necessarily stable. It can be defined by society and expressed by individuals as they interact with others and media, because whether an individual is born biologically male or female, they learn to act in masculine or feminine ways (Wood 2011). Previous research has found that individuals form gender roles in many numerous and differing ways. This area of research on gender role socialization is important to the daily life of people living in the United States and worldwide. Gender role is constantly evolving throughout different generations of families and affects the way individuals gain success, raise their children, and even view themselves and their inherent worth as an individual.
Previous research has suggested that familial structure and a family’s religious affiliation has a huge influence on gender role attitudes, whether it be a direct or indirect reinforcement of sex-based roles from religious teaching or differing styles of parenting across families (Carlson and Knoester 2011; Davis and Willis 2010; Leve and Fagot 1997; Marks, Lam, and McHale 2009; Piela 2010; Seguino 2011; Witt 1997; Wright and Young 1998). Similarly, research has suggested that more fundamental religious beliefs lead to a more traditional view of gender roles involving men as breadwinners of the household and women responsible for domestic duties and as caregivers to their children (Civettini and Glass 2008; Piela 2010; Price 2008; Seguino 2011). More research notes that family discipline processes and gender-role socialization are generally hypothesized to differ
Introduction
How are gender roles learned? Gender itself refers to the socially constructed attributions that a given society considers appropriate for men and women and the outward expressions of what society considers “masculine” or “feminine.” In many ways, gender, in response to changing generational attitudes and societal norms and expectations, is neither innate nor necessarily stable. It can be defined by society and expressed by individuals as they interact with others and media, because whether an individual is born biologically male or female, they learn to act in masculine or feminine ways (Wood 2011). Previous research has found that individuals form gender roles in many numerous and differing ways. This area of research on gender role socialization is important to the daily life of people living in the United States and worldwide. Gender role is constantly evolving throughout different generations of families and affects the way individuals gain success, raise their children, and even view themselves and their inherent worth as an individual.
Previous research has suggested that familial structure and a family’s religious affiliation has a huge influence on gender role attitudes, whether it be a direct or indirect reinforcement of sex-based roles from religious teaching or differing styles of parenting across families (Carlson and Knoester 2011; Davis and Willis 2010; Leve and Fagot 1997; Marks, Lam, and McHale 2009; Piela 2010; Seguino 2011; Witt 1997; Wright and Young 1998). Similarly, research has suggested that more fundamental religious beliefs lead to a more traditional view of gender roles involving men as breadwinners of the household and women responsible for domestic duties and as caregivers to their children (Civettini and Glass 2008; Piela 2010; Price 2008; Seguino 2011). More research notes that family discipline processes and gender-role socialization are generally hypothesized to differ