The research conducted by Martin proves that gender is the socially conditioned notion which practically exists only within society. I totally agree with the general idea of the article and have no difficulties understanding its context. From my point of view, gender peculiarities are imposed on people during their childhood. Actually, some of such prejudices can significantly harm the process of self-identification of kids causing dangerous psychological problems.
According to Martin, “gender becomes embedded in body postures, musculature, and tensions in our bodies” (494). The most interesting aspect of this phrase is that the gender peculiarities form with third-party help. This means that they are not acquired during the natural process of socializing. On the contrary, they are being imposed on children by the parents, teachers, and peers. The fact that this process is intentional is pretty terrifying for me. It is evident that gender distribution cannot be erased from our society completely. The socialization process itself includes gender division. This is the fundamental basis of the society we live in.
However, the idea about the hidden curriculum described by Martin has never crossed my mind (499). The researcher believes that “hidden curriculums are covert lessons that schools teach, and they are often a means of social control” (Martin 495). The in-school influence is an essential factor in creating the obedient member of the community because without such regulation, the society will definitely fall into anarchy through. However, the fact that people are being manipulated from early childhood to suit society’s standards is immoral. Although any system requires the ruler and the ones who are being ruled. Thus, this article reveals the inevitable truth about the nature of school gender-oriented education.
Work Cited
Martin, Karin. “Becoming a Gendered Body: Practices of Preschools”. American Sociological Review, vol. 63, no. 4, 1998, pp. 495-511. Web.