Why are boys louder than girls? - Kim yeonhee (김연희)
1) Summary
Humans survive by learning the culture of the groups they belong to through social experiences. Throughout their entire lives, individuals undergo a process called socialization, which significantly influences their beliefs and behaviors. This applies not only to children but also to adults. Through socialization, individuals learn and develop beliefs and behaviors considered moral within their affiliated society, shaping their own values accordingly.
Primary socialization occurs as children are influenced by their immediate family and friends. If they are exposed to discriminatory views about certain groups, the child may develop discriminatory attitudes towards those groups and believe that such behavior is acceptable.
Secondary socialization occurs within larger society. Typically experienced during adolescence or adulthood when individuals encounter new environments and societies, secondary socialization is encountered. For example, in school, unlike at home, there are many rules and standardized behaviors demanded. Children follow these rules and learn more rules through the people around them.
Through these processes, individuals acquire the appropriate beliefs and engage in ethical behavior demanded by society.
We commonly believe that we are born with a sense of self and that our personalities are formed based on it, but according to George Herbert Mead's theory of social behaviorism, the human self develops through social experiences. Our actions are influenced not by individual temperament, but by imitation and social role learning.
2) Why are boys louder than girls?
The reason lies in gender roles. Society expects men to fulfill strong and active leadership roles, whereas it expects women to embody quiet personalities and roles of service for men. People indirectly or directly emphasize to children the societal expectations of how they should behave.
Direct methods involve educational practices that vary based on the child's gender. Boys are educated to perform active and assertive roles, while girls are educated to perform passive and quiet roles.
Indirect methods involve emulation of others. Occupations such as politicians and CEOs, which directly voice opinions, are mostly dominated by men. Conversely, women predominantly occupy passive roles such as subordinate employees or homemakers. Children observing these roles naturally imitate them, with boys emulating leadership roles and girls emulating follower roles.
Through such methods, loud boys appear confident and assertive, whereas loud girls are socialized to appear rude and foolish.
3) Question or concern
What would modern society look like if gender roles demanded by society were completely opposite to what they are now? What kind of education would be necessary to allow individuals to act according to their beliefs without being bound by traditional gender roles?
I agree that there are different views toward loud boys and girls. Many people think that problems such as gender discrimination have weakened, but stereotypes still remain. I think public education is trying to prevent individuals from being bound by traditional gender roles, but it seems to be a difficult problem because it cannot prevent them from being influenced by the media or people around them. It is important to make young children aware that gender is not important to their usual jobs or roles. However, as they grow up, they are affected by the social atmosphere, so social perceptions must fundamentally change.
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