The word "gender" refers to the socially constructed knowledge, values, and practices connected to sex based differences. People are born female or male, but learn to be girls and boys, who grow into men and women. Males are supposed to be masculine, strong, and macho, while females are attributed to be feminine, fragile, and nurturing. Family reinforcement and traditional society expectations create gender roles; they are not innate features. Gender is constructed based on everything from appearance and dress, to relations with family and friends, to culture and sexuality (Appelbaum, 2001).
The home "gender factory" reproduces society's traditional gender roles through parental reinforcement (Appelbaum and Chambliss, 223). …
