Gender And The Environment - 1709 Words

GENDER CONFIGURES PERFORMATIVITY Jessica D’Angelo (0765801) Gender and the Environment GEOG*3090 Due: Thursday, September 18th, 2014 When looking at socialization, one might immediately reflect on the commonly known agents of socialization: family, institutions, schooling, religion, peer group, and the media. These are the forces in place that assist in shaping who or what a person becomes. Through intense social pressure, children are taught to perform a certain way while in school, places of religious authority, through their peer groups and at home, based on their gender. They are always being bombarded with ideas and stereotypes of gender through the media and the institutions that are in place. As Aulette†¦show more content†¦Examining gender stereotypes is particularly difficult. I believe that a lot of people have an essentialist view when it comes to gender. That is, â€Å"women are naturally better caregivers† or â€Å"men are essentially better in the sciences†. That it is completely natural for a woman or a man to act a certain way (Hawkins 2014). Many people are very set in their beliefs. Personally, I believe that the biggest stereotype surrounding women is that they are agents to raise children and build a home. There is a lot of pressure to perform this gender role seamlessly. Men are expected to get an education, get a good job and go to work daily to support the family. Lately, however, it seems that women are expected to pull a double-shift: they must have a job as well as continuing all of the housekeeping and caregiving duties as before (D’Angelo 2014). I spend a fair amount of time contemplating the idea of gender and why there are such rigid regulations put in place by society. Why does it matter what other people are doing with their lives? As a woman, there is a lot expected of me. Society wants me to find a good man, settle down and have babies while my husband goes to work every day. As my journal entry illustrates, â€Å"I am a traveller at heart, a restless soul. There is a small part of me that wants to explore the