# data[].attributes.body
Gender is socially constructed--how have you been socialized into your gender identity?

# data[].attributes.body
1. Social circles in schools, and families are  the primary socialization that contribute to gender socialization. By establishing and upholding cultural norms for gender-specific conduct, everyone involved contributes to the reinforcement of gender roles.Gender socialization allows me to pick up on certain behavior and what i've been taught about genders . For instance, ladies are pushed to be loving, empathetic, and obedient, but guys are taught to be forceful and competitive. I've learned that genders can be many different things and to accept others for who they are. Learning that has made me realize that the world can be in a better place if we welcome people with open arms.

# data[].attributes.body
One way I have been socialized into my gender identity is the way I speak. From a young age, my mom has told me to mind my words and tone. She explained early on how girls are not supposed to talk nasty, curse, or speak with an attitude. She taught me that I'm supposed to always be agreeable and nice/friendly even when I don't want to. This lesson has been associated with my gender identity since girls are supposed to "be agreeable" while boys get to mouth off and say vulgar things and it could just be seen as just boys being boys.

# data[].attributes.body
I've been socialized into my gender identity a few times when I was younger. One way was my hair had to always be done, whether it was straightened, in a ponytail, or a bun it had to be combed and maintained. My mom has always left me with the impression that because I'm a girl my hair should always be maintained and up to par. Due to the fact that girls should always look elegant in a sense.

# data[].attributes.body
My father didn't cry for the first 5 years of my life, he told me, "Men have to be strong, smart and charismatic". All things I was not, he filled my head with many things, even throwing me into a pool to teach me the importance of fending for myself and that I won't always have a hand to pick me up. When my grandma died, he held my hand tight and told me that he does not cry because he has to be the shoulder for people to lean on. That day we both cried, but it didn't make him weak, he taught me real strength. I was socialized into being strong for those around me and to always be positive in the bad times.

# data[].attributes.body
I have been socialized into my gender identity because ever since I was younger I was always told to "sit correctly" or to "close my legs" while I was sitting. I was told this because it was "the right way to sit as a girl." Socially constructed, women are supposed to keep their legs closed while sitting down because it expresses our "manners."

# data[].attributes.body
One way I've been socialized into gender identity was through my mother. My mother would teach me as a young girl how to dress, she would buy me and my sister a pink dresses and barbies the same with my sisters. My mother would also tell me that girls need to sit with their legs cross when wearing a dress when sitting to have manners. Also at a young age my mother would tell me since I'm a girl when I grow up that I need to clean and help around the house.

# data[].attributes.body
As a Muslim of West African descant who practices Islam, gender was not something that was discussed, it is deemed to be obvious that their are only two genders, male, and female. And that the gender that you were assigned as at birth is what you will remain as. I would say due to my religion, the current ideas that I acquire about gender is quite clear. And Islam is definitely the source of it.

# data[].attributes.body
As a kid, one way that I was socialized into my gender identity was with toys. I was told that only boys should be the ones to play with cars, toy guns, trucks, dinosaurs, and planes while girls play with Barbies, baby dolls, castles, etc. If a boy was seen playing with these girl toys he would either be called gay or told that he can't be playing with these because only girls can.

# data[].attributes.body
One way I have been socialized into my gender identity would be through the teachings of my grandmother. Since I was younger, my grandmother always told me to have my nails always painted and for them to always look proper. Every time I would go over to my grandmothers house which was every Sunday, she would inspect my nails and make sure they were painted and well kept. This portrayed an impression to me that girls should always maintain themselves and to always carry themselves in a decent matter or society will judge them.

# data[].attributes.body
I grew up with two brothers and from time to time my brother's friends would have spit competitions and I would join but if I spat around my father he would tell me that it was not ladylike and for me not to do it. As I got older that stood with me(I spit now though). Also, my mother always told me I had to keep my hair maintained, I was a tomboy when I was younger so I never cared for my hair to be done I would always have it in a messy bum and my mom would compare me to my other girl friends and tell me to have my hair done and to wear earrings 24/7! Lastly, whenever I cursed my mom would tell me that was not ladylike either which I was confused with but I guess it was because girls/women are not known to be "aggressive" and I guess cursing was seen as an aggression which was only "okay" for boys/men to do.

# data[].attributes.body
I have been socialized based on my gender identity from the very beginning with my parents, my parents were the first persons that were there to me to teach me about my gender identity. My gender identity remained the same up until today which was the gender I was assigned when I was born and it has been the way I've been treated for my whole life.

# data[].attributes.body
Growing up in a religious family socialized my gender identity. In many religions, gender isn't a topic that is talked about because it is taught as common sense that there exist only two genders, those genders being male or female. It is frowned upon to suggest or even be anything other than male or female. With that being said, that is why certain ideas stick with me and have been ingrained into my gender identity.

# data[].attributes.body
I have been socialized into my gender identity because I never like to wear dresses, skirts. My aunt compared me to my cousin saying that I should expose my beauty to everyone so that the boy would focus on me so that I would stop being so boring that I would wear makeup and fix my hair better than that's what women do, we should always look pretty for others.

# data[].attributes.body
I have been heavily socialized into my gender because my voice is somewhat deep so everyone expects me to be tough and masculine. My friends around me all kind of look to me as a sort of interim leader when one is needed. also in my religion the man has certain roles in the household that i have to fulfill since im the man of the household. growing up kind of formed me into the man i am since my friends heavliy influenced my mind as a child and i would think that certain behaviors or gestures were femine. that is a bad way of thinking and im glad i matureed enough to understand that.

# data[].attributes.body
A way I have been socialized into my gender identity was through many pieces of media. TV shows that were released throughout my childhood often had many visions of what a woman is. Women who were very nice and would easily fall in love with men or women who would be evil and jealous of other women. Women who would be there to be sexy for the male viewers or women who would be made fun of for being "virgins." Music has also been a way for women to be sexualized by male singers in often derogatory ways.

# data[].attributes.body
As a kid, I was thrown a lot of responsibility when it came to my brother and sisters. Although I am not the oldest, I was at the time in the household out of the 4. My mom and stepdad always had me take care of my siblings and as time passed by, I had gotten accustomed to it. My mom was unknowingly preparing me to be a mother figure ever since I was 5. None of my siblings ever went through the amount of stress and effort I had to put in to be a somewhat mother figure to them throughout their entire lives. It wasn't a choice but an obligation but I now know the craft inside and out along with realizing that huge chunk of my life was a gender identity.