Since a young age, women and men are exposed to gender roles. In the documentary, Disney Monopoly, they discuss how young girls see princesses being saved by princes and it makes them think they need a prince charming to save them. Humans learn to act by imitating others, the behavior we “[take] for granted is shaped by social structures” (Anderson). If these gender boxes are rooted since a young age, it is no surprise they stick with people for the rest of their lives. Gender socialization exists even at gyms. Young girls are brought up having barbies and wearing dresses; meanwhile, boys learn to “take it like a man”. Society tells woman they cannot lift weights because they need to be petite The idea that girls are “fragile” can be seen
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In “Sociology: The Essentials”, Anderson discusses how sports act as agents of socialization. According to Anderson, “sports are considered to be where one learns to be a man”, perhaps this explains why there was twenty males and only two females in the weight lifting room. Lifting heavy objects is seen as the macho thing to do at the gym. Women are discouraged from building muscle, society labels them as “butches” and society will ridicule them for “not being womanly enough” (Anderson). We live in a society where woman are expected to have a perfect body. Everywhere we look, television, magazine covers, ads, these models have unrealistic body types. None of them have defined arm muscles, they tend to be stick figure skinny. The result of the media playing such a huge role in self-image, is it influences what activities women do in a recreational center. The first floor met my expectations, more male’s workout in the first floor because their gender role is to be strong, tough, and protective and they do so by lifting. I saw a male guy take a Snapchat of his workout screen results. I was on the machine next to him so I saw when he hit “post to my Snapchat story”. He most likely did this to fit his gender box and seem strong to his male friends and attractive to his female friends. Males stick to their social
In “Sociology: The Essentials”, Anderson discusses how sports act as agents of socialization. According to Anderson, “sports are considered to be where one learns to be a man”, perhaps this explains why there was twenty males and only two females in the weight lifting room. Lifting heavy objects is seen as the macho thing to do at the gym. Women are discouraged from building muscle, society labels them as “butches” and society will ridicule them for “not being womanly enough” (Anderson). We live in a society where woman are expected to have a perfect body. Everywhere we look, television, magazine covers, ads, these models have unrealistic body types. None of them have defined arm muscles, they tend to be stick figure skinny. The result of the media playing such a huge role in self-image, is it influences what activities women do in a recreational center. The first floor met my expectations, more male’s workout in the first floor because their gender role is to be strong, tough, and protective and they do so by lifting. I saw a male guy take a Snapchat of his workout screen results. I was on the machine next to him so I saw when he hit “post to my Snapchat story”. He most likely did this to fit his gender box and seem strong to his male friends and attractive to his female friends. Males stick to their social