Socialization meaning, functions, agencies, gender and socialization

SOCIALIZATION

In this chapter you learn : • Meaning of the socialization • Functions of socialization. • Agencies of socialization • Gender and socialization

Meaning of Socialization

Society exists due to the social life of people. Human being is a social animal. At birth human being is just a living thing or an animal, then he transforms into a social being. Child starts to learn the social behavior form its childhood. The process of learning social behavior and the process of becoming social being is called socialization.

The moment the child gets the power of thinking and talking, it will make contact with the people living in the society. It tries to communicate non-verbally and tries to imitate the others. Like this, it is influenced by the social environment. The human being and his social dependency is seen in this process.

Socialization is a process in which all the members of the society live in accordance to their duties and responsibilities. Socialization is a continuous process of social action which starts from birth. The basic instincts of human beings come under the influence of socialization and are shaped in accordance to the social environment and situations. Human beings become social beings by adopting social behaviors. This is called Socialization.

Functions of socialization

1. Converts human being into social being.

2. Provides the scope of adopting, imitating and learning of many skills.

3. Develops the social relationship and provide commitment and support to the social system.

4. Helps the development of personality.

5. Helps the continuity of tradition.

Agencies of socialization:

There are two major aspects that influence the process of socialization. Age, experience and the influence of the elders is the first one. The influence of the peer group is the second aspect. The first group includes father, mother, elders and teachers.

The second group includes friends and same age people. Based on these, the following can be identified as the agencies of socialization.

1) Family: Family plays a very important role in the socialization process of a child. Father-mother are direct blood relatives of the child. The idiom ‘Mother is the first teacher of child’ is literally true. The behavior, custom and practices, activities, interaction of father and mother will extremely influences on the emotional development of the child.

The child learns the first lesson of life values such as love, concern, faith, patience, cooperation, coordination etc., at home itself. The appreciation from the family always encourages the activities of the child. Children are obedient to their parents because they are old enough in their age, experience and authority. Due to the socialization process, the hearts of the children blossoms and family is basic foundation for all these processes.

2) Peer Group: The other most important agency of socialization includes peer group that includes same aged children, friends, classmates and playmates. This relationship is based on mutual help and coordination. Since all belong to similar age group, the child learns many aspects of social behaviors from them. This knowledge is important from the perspective of normal social relationships and behaviors.

3)Religion: Religion also plays a role in the socialization process. Human beings faith in a religion provides a base of ideal life. Religion advocates a moral life. The parents and elders of the family inculcate religious activities in children by visiting religious places and performing various rituals. This is done in all religions in different ways.

4) School: The role of school is very crucial in the socialization process. In schools the child is not only influenced by the teachers but also by its friends and classmates. The social behavior, knowledge and experience of the child are molded by the education. Subconscious capacity of the children is also developed. School will extend his/her life and make them ready for social life. The role of teacher in the socialization process of the child is very crucial. Various positive aspects that find expression in teachers like good behaviors, equality and good will get reflected in the children as well. This enables children develop love, cooperation, tolerance, co-living, mutual respect and other various values in their life.

5)Mass Media: In modern world, the social media also works as the important agency of socialization. The mass media such as radio, television, movies/ films, newspapers, magazines utilize literature extensively. Human beings are deeply influenced by advertisements, radio programs, stories, novels, Television serials, dance drama, music, posters and important statements by popular persons. News, quiz, introductory talks, discussion, programs introducing various important places and others help the viewers to develop good personality. Similarly programs of academic interest facilitate better social behavior among people.

6) Neighbourhood:  Neighbourhood are the families which reside close to your family. This is a small community having the characteristics of large community. Neighbourhood is small in size. Here the people are related to each other. People help each other in many ways. The influence of neighbourhood is found both in rural and urban communities. The people of neighbourhood live like the members of the same family by sharing their happiness and sorrows. Neighbourhood people help each other in festival, fair, marriage, religious rituals and other programmes.

Neighbourhood relationship is much stronger in rural communities than in urban communities. Gender and Socialization We already know that socialization is very essential for all the human beings. The socialization process is not same in all the families. The customs, rituals, educational level, desires, tastes, needs etc., of the parents influence the socialization process. Because of this the parents teach variously about values, customs and practices knowingly or unknowingly to their children in the process of socialization.

For example, we can find difference in the reaction of the parents when the boy child comes home late after playing and when a girl child comes late. Usually the parents just welcome the boy without asking anything but with the girl they cautiously warn her for coming late. Specially in India, the parents expect a girl should help their family in kitchen and in other services. But they don’t expect this from their son. In the same way, they provide cricket bat to the son whereas dolls to their daughter. Like this the process of socialization generally differs on the basis of their gender. This is called as differential socialization.

The nationalist and democratic perspectives, new economic policies along with modern education have liberated modern women from dependency in present India. Now the women are also getting some rights which were exclusively meant for men only. Now the women are also getting job opportunities in mining, steel factories and in many other fields like medical, law and research at university levels, factories, army, manufacturing of war equipment’s etc.

The socialization process is important from the view of equality and equal opportunity. The implementation of equality concept after Independence and the efforts by governments for the education of girls have brought in many changes. The development of urban areas and economy along with the changes in social perceptions have contributed a lot towards achieving gender equality.