I was attracted to
Cultural Theories of Gender because it incorporates several facets of theories
(which I had a hard time picking one theory, since I identified with them all)
that provide a view on the means of gender in other societies. Through
my research, I could identify and release my personal myopic view of gender roles, and open my mind to other cultural gender identities. While I have learned gender roles in
other countries differ from my idiosyncratic Western views, I still respect some other cultural gender identities, as well as continue to acknowledge the gender role in my own culture. My blog is a journey of two different contributions to the theory of cultural gender roles. You will experience through Anthropology how other cultures view transition into "manhood," and how Symbolic Interaction enforces and reinforces gender roles through symbolic means such as toys, clothes, peer interaction, etc., which encompass traditional gender roles assigned through social life within our culture.
Anthropology Cultural Theories review foreign cultural gender roles. There are rights are passages created by different cultures that represent gender identification.
In the Samoan culture, men are tattooed from the waist down to represent their transition from childhood to manhood (Wood, 2011). The tattoos are a representation of the man’s power, status, respect and honor. They will not be considered men until they have been tattooed.
In the Jewish culture, boys transition from boyhood to manhood by a celebratory bar mitzvah. The purpose of the bar mitzvah is to recognize the 13 year old boy with the same jewish rights as a grown man. In this respect, the boy now entering into manhood is responsible for his own decisions and actions.
Symbolic Interaction argues that we learn our cultural views through communication with others. While your gender roles are not innate, there are symbolic communications teaching gender roles early on.
Gender roles are communicated through play activities. Below is a picture of a baby boy playing with trucks, which illustrates his gender identity role early on.
Play activities with peers reinforces the gender role.
Little girls are known for playing with baby dolls, and through this play activity, the little girl is taught to be a caregiver.
Symbolic interaction in Western Culture is also responsible for assigning roles.
Men are placed in the majority of leadership roles:
CEO of Target: Greg Steinhafels
CEO of McDonalds: Donald Thompson
CEO of Wal-Mart: Mike Duke
