My Virtual Child (Essay Sample)

My Virtual Child Student Name Institution Affiliation Instructor Name Due Date My Virtual Child Gender Role Development in Middle Childhood Socialization is one of the things that influence gender role formation. This principle involves a child learning and imitating those behaviors and gender attitudes that are expected in their culture or society (Carpenter, 2018). In layperson's terms, this is how people are being instructed on how to act and think according to society's expectations based on gender. Usually, gender socialization starts as a child and continues through many other influential institutions such as the family, school, media, etc. It may contribute to a person's gender identity, self-esteem, perceptions of one's gender role, and what is deemed "good" and "normal" for one's gender. Nonetheless, gender socialization can be a barrier to individual development by emphasizing traditional gender stereotypes and harmful gender rules. One of the primary reasons behind my child's preference for pink color and her interest in playing with dolls is the socialization of typical roles in American families. These are regarded as traditionally "feminine" activities and are primarily motivated and forced by society for girls. Besides, my daughter is very caring and warm – qualities generally regarded as the characteristics of a woman's gender. In addition, I note that my child feels pressure to be more submissive and polite, which are traits encouraged and reinforced in girls. I have noticed my child trying to fit into gender roles, like boys being more aggressive and boys being more sensitive, because it looks like typical American gender role socialization is influencing her. In the end, my child's conformity to these gender norms is also reflected in words and acts of praise. When she behaves in a way that confirms typical gender roles, her actions are further reinforced, strengthening their importance in our society. The aspect of how I perceive gender roles today shares many of the common elements with the way most Americans look at this issue. I have always condemned the notion that boys and girls should be always viewed differently and given rare equal opportunities. Moreover, social values and gender-related stereotypes can also be included. Striving to expose my daughter to various kinds of activities and interests, I am also aware of the potential that she can join those which she considers "female activities." I intend to discuss with her in an open-minded and truthful manner the harm of gender stereotypes and where she may have come across them. What I would like to say to her is that nothing restricts her from manifesting herself while she is selecting her way un-cuffed by social pressure. Overall, I am committed to being a role model and guaranteeing that everyone has the same respect and opportunities, irrespective of gender. The roots of my viewpoint on the role of American gender socialization emerge from my cultural background and the society I grew up with. I, too, was a victim of gender stereotyping, which translated to societal norms of boys and girls. As well as the attitudes of my parents, being traditional also in gender roles probably contributed to forming my beliefs. Nevertheless, with the increase in my understanding of gender roles and socialization patterns, I am now directly working to change my child's perception and advocate for a gender-neutral approach. Also, being an educated person who has seen different cultures and perspectives has led to a deeper understanding of how gender roles affect society. Through the process of examining the negative consequences of dogmatic gender roles, I have decided to disregard and contradict them. I try to teach equal educational values to my child so that he can challenge gender roles and emerge successfully with his unique abilities. Adolescence With my child's progression through adolescence, I started noticing specifics in her behavior, which resembled the typical adolescent problems presented in the textbook and the lessons. She became ruder and more confrontational; she began arguing and contradicting everything her parents said. She often asked her parents why they had rules and restrictions. Besides her moods becoming more volatile and intense, she also expressed feelings of stress and anxiety more often. In addition, she started to like boys more and dresses up more, paying more attention to herself and feeling more insecure. As a parent, I addressed these changes by encouraging two-way communication with my daughter and creating a sheltering atmosphere where she would be free to communicate her feelings. I was also consistent with the rules and boundaries that I set, allowing my daughter to be independent and enjoy making her own decisions. In addition to this, I also tried to address her insecurities and concerns by promoting positive self-esteem and body image. When I was talking to my child, my child became more familiar with my reactions and was more expressive and talkative with me. Besides that, she also experienced her ups and downs and was just as rebellious because sometimes it happens to teens growing up. It feels lucky to me that she never tried anything suspicious, like drugs or alcohol. Nevertheless, being her mother, I did not fail to set strong limits with her and to...