Gender Socialization

For nearly every person, one of our most early experiences is that of being known for our gender. At birth, we are declared either a girl or a boy, and this early identity usually stays with us for all of our lives. Our parents or caregivers, and our culture, from the very start, give us messages about what it means to live  our lives as girls and boys, then, women and men. The messages continue throughout our lives, in our families, our friendships, through pop culture and the media. What happens then, in relationship? How do we live our personal identities and our relational identities conforming to gender expectations? Some people are able to more easily identify when gender socialization feels uncomfortable to them, and for others, this plays out unknowingly in their lives and relationships. The more we are able to understand gender socialization, and how this may or may not be affecting our lives, helps us to become aware of the messages that we are seeing around us, and allows us the choice to either affirm or deny their power in our lives.