Gender Interactionism

Either a blue or a pink blanket is wrapped on a newborn when the infant is born. The blue blanket is what classifies the child as a male, and the pink blanket categorizes the young as a female. Typically, these are the first two symbols that build the belief of masculinity and femininity. The interactionist perspective of gender states that gender is something that is done or performed, it’s not something that defines an individual. According to Boundless, “The meanings attached to symbols are socially created and fluid, instead of natural and static.” Because of symbols being socially constructed we act and react to symbols based on their current assigned meanings. Various agents that have socialized me to be a woman include Theories of self-development, …show more content…
While in the play stage, I would watch my mother use makeup, carry a purse and wear heals. As a child, I would always role play my mom and follow in her footsteps. As an adolescent, I learned through development what the role of being feminine consist. For instance, while growing up I was taught to follow my mom’s behavior, an example would be when sitting in a chair with my legs crossed. Or, watching my mother cook and clean around the house. Watching these actions showed me how my mom acted and behaved compared to my father. When something broke like the television or car my dad was the person who fixed it, when dinner needed to be made my mom was the person to cook. I learned and developed an understanding of a women’s role in the household and began to mimic the behavior of my mother. During the game stage of George Herbert Mead theory, I quickly learned that boys did not believe girls could compare. When it came to activities such as sports, boys always had a higher expectation than females. For instance, in school to receive an A in physical education, kids needed thirty pushups and girls needed twenty. I became socialized into believing that I would never be as high as a boy because I was female. Early child development plays a crucial role in planting the seed of gender …show more content…
I was socialized from that point on to maintain the idea of femininity. Gender identity is typically visual with symbols. While growing and developing, I learned the appropriate behavior of a female and how to act like a “proper young woman’. Theories of self-development, the influence of family and control of society have all changed me into practicing the proper norms of a