05 SOCIALIZATION

The Process of Fitting into Society

WHAT IS SOCIALIZATION?

• the process that teaches the norms, values, and other aspects of a culture to new group members

HOW DO THE FOUR THEORETICAL PARADIGMS VIEW SOCIALIZATION?

• functionalism: institutions, like religion and education, are useful in socializing individuals

conflict theory: an individual’s social statuses, such as social class, can influence how she or he is socialized

• symbolic interactionism: total institutions are successful in resocializing people by altering their sense of self
• feminist theory: societies use gender socialization to teach members how to express their femininity and masculinity

HOW DOES UNDERSTANDING SOCIALIZATION HELP US IMPROVE OUR SOCIETY?

• through social policies that are designed to give equal opportunities to both genders