Sexual Roles in Children

Becoming a gendered body child is very important in society. There comes a time in life when you get the opportunity to choose if the life you have been given is right for you. At times people have said you were born the way you are and others say no it’s a choice. Inside this article an experiment has been done to compare and gather information on how children develop, and their actions, along with body training, to help mold them into their assigned genders. The social problem that is being investigated throughout this article is quite complex to me. Basically they have chosen over 100 students, and 7 teachers that are divided into 5 different classes. Although some are in the same general area were their parents work, they may live, or go to church. The actual experiment is studying how the student’s behavior changes from hyper activity’s to strict ones. As well as how they interact with the others students during play time, dress up, groups activities, etc. They boys versus the girls, the boys verses the boys, and the popular verses the non-popular. Loud to the quite however you would like to look at it. Everything and everyone has been watched, for 6-8 months with detailed recordings and observation. Martin, Karin A. (1998). Becoming a gendered body: Practices of preschools. American Sociological Review, 63(4), p. 494-511.
The researchers used two common formed methods for research to conduct this experiment. One of them is participant observation and the other is secondary sources. Now for the secondary sources would have all the information they complied when they had the kids do extra things along with their daily activities there so they could keep an eye on them and notice how things affected their gendered roles. With the participant observations, the researchers stood back and investigated the children at different times and locations within the time frame to see how the time may play a role along with their environment and disciple agenda. Martin, Karin A. (1998). Becoming a gendered body: Practices of preschools. American Sociological Review, 63(4), p. 494-511.
After completing the research for this experiment the studies showed that children's bodies are disciplined by schools. Children are physically active, and institutions like schools impose disciplinary controls that regulate children's bodies and prepare children for the larger social world. While this disciplinary control produces docile bodies (Foucault 1979). Also it showed that children who dressed certain ways like girls in dresses would not do certain physical things in preschool but in elementary school the girls in dresses dropped dramatically. Intelligence was also noted and it showed that girls who wore certain things already had the proper ups and downs about how to wear it properly and what can and can’t be done in certain types of clothing. Some were skirts, dresses, tights, stockings, etc. Even the boys knew the same things girls did and they used it to better themselves. Some boys were more in a playful manner with the girls. After having the girls report it immediately the boys stop misbehaving once they were told to stop. It also found to be true that the more discipline in the school that was enforced the better the child was with his/her activities. Children's bodies are disciplined by schools. Children are physically active, and institutions like schools impose disciplinary controls that regulate children's bodies and prepare children for the larger social world. While this disciplinary control produces docile bodies (Foucault 1979),
Since it is common for children to reject or not comply with the proper gender. That does not mean it’s the end of the world. There are going to be times when the boys are going to be loud and uncontrollable and maybe not even playing fair. It’s all a part of growing up no child is the perfect angel, while others who tend to be a tad bit more ruff around the edges isn’t just the demons or problem child. The whole point of this experiment is to see how and what makes kids genders kick in and develop to be the man or the little woman that they are. In my personal experience with infants, toddlers, and elementary children. The at home scene plays the biggest role for behavior rather it be gender, or personality. Leaving at home to weight more than school, church, or any other afterschool activities. In my opinion one solution to the social problem is simple, parents have to start to teach their kids about the yes and no’s of their gender. Needless to say just because he’s a male doesn’t mean he can’t wear pink, and she can’t play with a toy truck. The problem is these children are lost and trying to find themselves. Parents need to take the time to sit with them and show them explain. Gender relations depend on the successful gender presentation, monitoring, and interpretation of bodies (West and Zimmerman 1987). Children have so much they are trying to learn in a new world school environment and who knows what else. So it’s not going to be overnight, but the results of this experiment is really what I thought it should have been. There is never no right or wrong with whatever your views are. Just raise your kids at home and not in the streets.