Gender Socialization in Women

Socialization is a lifelong process of learning about, and performing, societal norms that one is taught. Socialization occurs along a developmental continuum throughout the life span; it is an interactive process and takes place between the individual and the society. While people of all different cultures are socialized to think and behave in certain ways, socialization for women relates to how they learn and perform in gendered ways in society. Thus, women observe, imitate, and internalize what it means to be a woman—sharing their gender identity, their personality traits, and other psychological outcomes. This entry discusses the conceptualization of gender socialization and how gender socialization is shaped by the intersection of individual factors that include culture, ethnicity, and social class.