IndexIntroductionChildhoodAdolescenceYoung adulthoodAdultConclusionIntroductionGender is a social construct intended to explain the biological differences between male and female. In this case gender is being man or woman. Although it is determined by the sex of the individual, gender defines masculinity and femininity. Gender ultimately determines the social gender roles of different sexes; the male is associated with masculinity and the female with femininity. Characteristics associated with masculinity include courage, assertiveness, need for power, authority and independence. Femininity is associated with care, gentleness, warmth, empathy and sensitivity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Gender socialization is one of the most important aspects of society. The roles are clearly known and boys and girls are treated differently from birth and are expected to pass on equally to the next generation. Gender socialization occurs using four main institutions and agents; family, peers, media and education. ChildhoodBeing male means having a male physical appearance; having muscles, a deep voice and a masculine sexual orientation while being a man means having courage, assertiveness and dominance. Physical characteristics translate into social roles and expectations. For me, as a kid, there were various actions that were encouraged and others that were not. I was always dressed in blue and if I wanted something pink I was warned against it. Apparently blue is for boys and pink is for girls. My parents bought me toy cars, toy guns (water guns), and were encouraged to play outside in the mud and grass. These toys and games were intended to promote solitary play, aggression, and improve motor skills. On the other hand, my sisters were encouraged to play with dolls, pretend to cook, organize tea parties and play in doorways to avoid getting dirty. These games would promote a sense of nourishment in them. From the beginning I knew that being a boy meant being tough, tough and brave while being a girl meant being a housewife and a good hostess. I remember one time I was out playing with the other boys and we challenged each other to climb to the top of a tree and the ones who were scared were criticized because they were "acting like girls and couldn't fit in with the rest of us". That incident made me realize that being a boy meant overcoming my fear and being brave even when I wasn't asked to be. I remember seeing the movie called Express; about how American football was revolutionized in the 1950s and it was clear that while girls worried about ruining their nail polish, boys ran, got hurt and sometimes injured themselves from the sport and still returned to the field. There was a certain sense of satisfaction in joining a team where getting hurt, injured or hospitalized was a big thing. Girls were more sensitive while boys took risks. I always loved being a boy, because it meant chasing each other in the mud and rain, building tree houses, watching horror movies and sometimes acting them out, setting up the nearby fire yard, stealing useless things and building what seemed useful to us . At that age we never really cared about social class, what we wanted was to take risks and get emotions from risks. Everything for kids is a challenge and sooner or later we would get into serious trouble. The only thing that was clear was that the dispute had to be resolved with a confrontation and a handshake and was not leftno hard feelings. The most powerful boy, the leader, was the one strong enough to defeat us in all tasks and brave enough to take risks. Toys were our creativity. There has never been any concern about meeting society's expectations. Being boys for us, and personally for me, was second nature. All I had to do was make sure I never went in there too, a lot of effort to avoid being grounded and locked in the house. Adolescence Once I became a teenager, my concept of gender changed and I became confused. Apparently, according to society, there are boyish and manly behaviors but adolescence is a gray area. I remember that unlike when I was a boy, as a teenager I didn't know what was expected of me and every now and then I found myself in difficulty. My parents tried to talk to me about the body changes I was experiencing and how they will affect the person I become. It was difficult for me to be open with them about my concerns since all I could see in them was the source of authority and punishment. I in turn discussed the problems with my colleagues who didn't seem to know much and more often we deceived each other. I wanted more freedom to choose what to do, what to wear, who to interact with, and I really emphasized privacy. During this time social class played an important role, as I could only socialize with teenage boys of my social class. Schools offered sex education to teenagers, but the information left me with more questions than answers. I was fortunate to have a good neighbor, a former Army soldier who always prided himself on serving his country. He was my role model. He told me everything I needed to know about being a teenager and what is expected of me when I grow up and become a man. We talked about career choice and he discouraged me from pursuing a career in hospitality, nursing and human resources; those were too feminine. He encouraged me to become a firefighter, an engineer, a soldier or a pilot; masculine careers for men. He was encouraging me to notice young girls and, if possible, talk to them. To approach a girl I had to be confident and decisive, as men don't doubt themselves. He told me to run for school captain and when I told him I was afraid of losing he told me that real men aren't afraid of losing, instead they are afraid of missing out on an opportunity to try. I remember how he taught me how to drive a car, he told me that confidence and understanding of art was all I needed. To this day his advice still rings in my head in almost everything I do. From my mentor I learned that confidence, courage and courage were not a choice, being a man, but were a requirement. It was then that I understood why boys in some African communities undergo painful initiation processes that are believed to transform them from boys to men. They are forced to go through painful experiences and are expected to endure the pain. Now I understood that the boys actually felt the pain, they simply endured it to meet society's expectations; be accepted and understood as a man. During this time, I remember wanting so much more than I had and envying those who had more than me. This led me to seek approval from those who had what I wanted. The peer pressure got real here and I did things I would never have done before. I would question almost everything, including parental authority. Without proper guidance, teenage boys who have been taught by society to never be afraid to trysomething new they can easily become victims of crimes. At this point I was tempted to try alcohol, drugs, different dress codes and even crime. However, my mentor always talked to me and brought me to reality. I also believed that girls had it easy compared to boys. All they had to do was look nice and they could be invited to any dance or party, but for me the important thing was to meet the right person and behave well. Young adulthood As a young man I had accepted that I was now a man and adolescence had taught me that choices have consequences. If I wanted to have something, I would have to work hard for it; there are simply no shortcuts in life. I had learned that a man doesn't complain about not having something, but instead finds a way to get it. I saw myself as the final decision maker in my life and that peer pressure and the opinions of others were meant to distract and receive advice consecutively. In most relationships I've had, be they friends or even family, I had learned to be assertive in communicating what I wanted, so if I felt oppressed it would end quickly. Being a man also means being responsible, paying the bill at the end of a date with a girl, walking her home and making sure she's home safe, holding down a stable job, and helping out at home by sorting things out. On the contrary, I found it unpleasant to cook, serve, clean and even do laundry - these are more feminine chores that I can only do when I have no choice. My neighbor and my parents made significant contributions to influencing my understanding of gender. role and what society expects me to be. My parents made me understand what is right and what is wrong and that I am responsible for my actions. As a young man they showed me that being a man means being courageous and courageous at the same time as loving and kind depending on the situation. I have to understand and access the situation and then choose the kind of man I want to be. As a young adult, in the spirit of choosing a manly course, I chose physical and social sciences and easily closed the door to several careers but at the same time opened the doors to careers that can impact people's lives and change them. I could notice the power, the status because I had started to see the consequences of choices and actions. Those teenage boys who have decided to be assertive and have some form of independence never feel peer pressure enough to ruin their lives. Being able to afford all the necessities has challenged me to work hard to be a better person. Adult Currently, as a grown man, I believe there are no closed doors for me; the career I choose is based on my passion and not on the role society believes I should fill. I am exposed to a world of possibilities and can achieve anything I try to achieve. Perceived closed doors are a state of mind. I believe I have been gifted with the necessary personality traits that today's society requires to survive. There is no gender that has privileges over the other; society currently offers equal chances and opportunities to achieve the best and improve society. As a man I believe that current society offers equal opportunities without discrimination to both sexes. Education has played an important role in ensuring that girls and boys have received an equitable education and have equal opportunities to pursue their chosen careers. Conclusion It is a survival for the fittest society and the characteristics that I acquired when I was a boy, a teenager and a young adult have become courageous, courageous, decisive and responsible and this prepares me well.