Essentialist see gender as something to be scientifically figured out not relating to gender culturally, and while constructionalists are better at seeing the possibilities of a gender identity, they still classify what it means to be masculine or feminine when breaking down people into categories with their genders. This is also an incorrect way to categorize people because it is once again dragging gender stereotypes* into the situation.
All of the above contribute to the sexual orientation of individuals as they struggle to find their attraction and themselves as a person. Putting a limit on such categories such as heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality or asexuality seems inevitable, so instead of dropping these people into categories accepting them for being who they identify as a person is the best way to see each other as equals allowing them to judge themselves in the changing times.
A main point under gender identification and sexual identification would be the socialization under each, which I blatantly feel is most interpreted through the media. Looking at the failed impact of gender role socialization leads me to believe that it is rooted into children where they belong because of their family members; the conscious effort to function certain behaviors in children. Through observation, imitation, and play, gender stereotyped* behaviors are achieved, and roots itself all the way up from how kids do chores, to life lessons, to adulthood actions, to marriage because a heterosexual marriage was the only thing deemed normal because of the only two classifications that gender was placed under. It is a cause and effect for the way our laws and how are society functions throughout history is gender stereotyped* into our brains long from the moment we were born. School systems under the gender and sexuality crisis are interesting because they are known for their favoritism in men, yet they are the ones with the misbehavior. While girls are the ones doing better academically yet are mostly only encouraged to look good. It sounds as if men are treated as spoiled brats from the start while women are treated less efficiently, but I think that gives them all the more moral stability to conquer challenges. It is noticed here again that the media paints a picture here for both genders, encouraging men to be successful and women to be perfect physically from adolescence. Looking at other evidence from the article, “A Threat in the Air” by Claude M. Steele, because of family and schools and the relentless media pouring down on the generation, a stereotype threat is created creating more possibilities for a negative impact on intellectual functioning and identity development. There will be a fear of judgement based on the cultural stereotype functioned into our minds from the very start of our existence through our upbringing. The peer influence I believe ties into schools and how we are functioned it the beginning to play with certain things and in the same sexed groups. Yet it all ties back down to the media and how the media categorizes “how gender fits into society” (Barner 1999) Reflecting further into the media section, and how, “Girls should be beautiful, caring, sensitive, and reserved, while boys should be assertive, strong, and analytic.”, the article “Cutting Girls Down To Size In Advertising” by Jean Kilbourne, where thinness is the proper size for a woman, make a point that girls are being taught to believe through the media that we are meant to look, dress, act and be all this specific classifications of things that deem us to be “lady-like”.
