Parents & Gender Socialization

The differences between men and women have been observed for centuries, documented in everything from scientific studies to good-natured jokes and anecdotes. While many of these differences are biological, a lot have to do with the way that parents treat their sons versus their daughters.

“Males take more risks than females, because of biological as well as gender socialization issues,” says Dr. Mariana Brussoni, a developmental psychologist and researcher active in the Men's Health Initiative of BC. “For example, with biological issues, there's evidence that boys and men around the world take more risks, because with boys, they have much greater rates of rough and tumble play across different cultures than girls do.”

When we think back to our own childhoods, we probably remember our parents taking us to the playground. We may remember a parent stepping in when we tried something new, or perhaps letting us do something risky without intervening. When and how our parents stopped any risk-taking behaviour was likely due in large part to gender.

 “For example, when boys and girls are undertaking difficult tasks, such as at a playground, or trying something that's a little harder, boys will be allowed to do more of that behaviour before parents intervene,” says Dr. Brussoni. “There will also be expectations that boys are more capable of doing things, for example, climbing on a structure and so on.”

The way parents supervise is also related to gender. “Girls will have a more restricted range where they can go,” says Dr. Brussoni. “Boys are allowed to wander further than girls, and girls are kept closer to home.”

Gender socialization starts at a very young age, and these early experiences influence who we will be as adults. “Gender socialization impacts everything that we do all the way through our life,” says Dr. Brussoni.