Growing Pains:
The Griphold of Gender

Nature vs Nurture: Neurosexism

To understand the grip hold of Gender on children through the ages, it's important to look at the beginning.

Gender stereotypes begin when you are born.  When the sex of a baby is identified, it immediately comes with gendered connotations like   “He's going to be such a heartbreaker!’” when it is a boy and “She's Daddy’s little princess!” when it's a girl. 

However, it is important to ask where these ideas actually come from, does a boy come out of the womb and immediately become a heartbreaker? Does a girl take her first breath of air and decide to dedicate her life to being ‘daddy’s little princess?' There is a lot of debate surrounding our brains in regard to gender, as a male brain is usually bigger.  Many people tend to use this as an excuse for how women are treated in society vs men. 

This can be defined as ‘Neurosexism’   “the ugly rush to cloak old-fashioned sexism in the respectable and authoritative language of neuroscience” (Fine, 2008, p. 69).

Well-known Scientist Feminist Cordelia Fine coined this term and wrote two powerful books called ‘Delusions of Gender' and ‘Testosterone Rex’ debunking the idea that our brain and our hormones can be used as an excuse to be sexist.  

An honourable mention - The extent parents go to gender their baby, I give you, Gender Reveal Parties: 

Teenagers and Highschool

Media has influenced teenagers' interpretation and understanding of explicit content. Therefore, it has become critical that inclusive and accurate sex education is being taught in schools. A list of scholars examined studies from over three decades of research on sex education and found “evidence for the effectiveness of approaches that address a broad definition of sexual health and take positive, affirming, inclusive approaches to human sexuality.” Findings strengthen justification for the widespread adoption of the National Sex Education Standards.

Most teens get their sex education online, and it isn't accurate.

'Out of 177 sexual health websites examined in a 2010 study by the Journal of Adolescent Health, 46% of those addressing contraception and 35% of those addressing abortion contained inaccurate information.'

Identity

The establishment of identity, along with experimentation, is one of the most important aspects of adolescence. Societal views of gender can limit young people’s perceptions and expectations of themselves. It may also adversely affect the self-esteem, mental health, and relationships of an individual.

In their teen years, young people experiment with their looks.  The interest in beauty among teens begins at an early age. This is an opportunity for teenagers to try out new things and experiment with the magic of makeup. It is just a matter of continuing their conversion into adolescence by allowing boys and girls

Late teens & early adulthood

It seems that teenage years and maturing are both accompanied by difficulties. It makes sense, as these years represent a time of growth (mentally and physically) and development. Society considers 18 to be the threshold into adulthood, a time of maturity. The age of 18 also brings with it an increase in responsibilities and opportunities. 

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