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Children become aware of gender roles in their earliest years, and they come to understand and perform these roles through socialization, which occurs through four major agents: family, education, peer groups, and mass media. Socialization into narrowly prescribed gender roles results in the stratification of males and females. Each sociological perspective offers a valuable view for understanding how and why gender inequality occurs in our society.
In what way do parents treat sons and daughters differently? How do sons and daughter typically respond to this treatment?
What can be done to lessen the effects of gender stratification in the workplace? How does gender stratification harm both men and women?
For more gender-related statistics see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at (External Link) and browse through to pictures like “gender and education” and “gender and health.”
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