Gender socialization and the making of gender in the Indian context / Sujit Kumar Chattopadhyay

Includes bibliographical references (pages [259]-268) and index

Introduction -- Part 1. Themes : 1. Gender study and social psychology: a theoretical approach -- 2. Gender: meaning, formation and effects -- 3. Gender socialization: meaning, nature and scope -- Part 2. Perspectives: agents of gender socialization : 4. Role of family -- 5. Role of peer group -- 6. Role of school -- 7. Role of media -- 8. Role of religion: norms and practices -- 9. Role of religious myths and concepts -- Conclusion

Gender Socialization and the Making of Gender in the Indian Conext discusses what gender is, its formation and effects, and how children form gender identities by conforming to social expectations adn imitating gender-specific behaviour. As they grow older, they learn to assimilate this behaviour and the norms that they had earlier merely imitated. They also learn they consequences of deviating from these norms. Each culture has a set of practices for teaching gender roles. This book examines the social arrangements in India that make a child conform to normative femininity or masculinity. It studies the role of family, religion, mythology, teachers, peer group and the various media in inculcating this. Further, the book looks at the root cause of sexist injustices rampant even today in the making of gender inequality--back cover