Gender Socialization and Its Impact on Educational Choices

Abstract

From birth to adulthood, individuals are socialised into a particular gender and this paper explores how gender socialisation influences educational choices and analyses the roles of the family, school and society. It is found that family, school and society play an important role in shaping an individual’s gender socialisation, and that families can break down gender bias by changing their own traditional behaviours, breaking down gender stereotypes, not interfering with their children’s interests, and encouraging and allowing their children to make free choices about their education. Teachers in schools can avoid the impact of gender socialisation on educational choices by providing equal and inclusive educational opportunities and learning resources, and teachers should guide their students in shaping a value system that is free from gender bias and offer more diverse curricula. Gender equality should be promoted on social media to break down traditional gender stereotypes and minimise the impact of gender socialisation on educational choices.