Cycle of Socialization

Throughout my day, I am expected to perform certain roles that are assigned to be by society based off of my identities. A few of my identities that either I have chosen, or were given to me, are: female, CI student, a white American, sister, daughter and roommate.

If we take my identity of “daughter” and put it through the cycle of socialization, the beginning would be me being born to my parents who have expectations of what a “good daughter” is supposed to be and gave me my name. An example of being born into an already socialized world as a daughter is the idea of being “daddy’s little girl,” and there are toys and signs and clothing being produced before a daughter enters the world.  The first socialization came from mostly my parents, along side other adults who were in my life at an early age the role of not only being someone’s child but a daughter. An example of that would be a memory of mine, where my grandmother told me that my mother was a good daughter because she was respectful and listened. Part of “training” as kids is learning and understanding the difference between good and bad, and that there are consequences to both. This subjective idea of good and bad heavily influences the socialization process. As a young child, I was given the title of daughter, but I wanted to earn the title of a “good” daughter. Eventually, the identity of daughter also meant being a sister. I think culturally, this idea of “daddy’s little girl” is pushed onto daughters at all ages. There are songs and traditions that encourage it. Reminder: I am claiming the identity of daughter, not “daddy’s little girl.” I am not saying that they are synonymous, but I am saying that society pushes daughters to identify with that phrase. The identity of being a daughter is enforced through privilege and rewards and punishments. I definitely think that because I was the only daughter out of three children, I have certain privileges but also pressures. I am encouraged to get married and pop out some grandkids, but I did/do get special attention from extended family because I am the only girl. The privileges are weird, I personally would like to ask those people why they treat me differently than my brothers, because I get the gender discriminations but I am curious about how numbers play into it. The result of the socialization leads to different pressures and expectations. I think this cycle when applied to the “daughter” identity, happens multiple times because our relationships with our parents are different at age 2, than at age 8, than at age 15, than at age 23, etc… so it’s almost like we have to socialize as we develop into our own selves and as our relationships evolve.