Psychodynamic Theory: The Formation Of Gender Identity

My life started with my long and hard birth on July 14, 1993. I came into the world with a large scream and was immediately placed into some sort of category. The doctors and nurses took a quick look at me, and pronounced me as a girl. This social label of being a girl was now my gender, which is something I had no say in. Every since that very moment in time where my parents were told I was a girl, I have been treated according to my gender. This meant that my parents automatically dressed me in pink, bought me dollhouses and kitchen sets and threw me Barbie themed birthday parties. Since I was surrounded my whole entire life by these things, it was almost like second nature to think and act the way that I did and still do. My

As a child a lot was expected of me being the only girl. My mother in particular

HI, Mireya I enjoyed how you described the things you had to wear and not do as a child in detail, reminds me of what I would go through as well. My mother would also instill me to play with dolls when I only wanted to play with the “rollie pollies” on the side of the house. I agree with your last statement of what you wear on the outside cannot explain what’s going on inside. I saw this documentary of children as young as 7 telling their parents they wanted to become boys, one little girls was open at a very young age with her parents about feeling like a boy inside so they supported her all the way they let her cut her hair and dress like a boy and eventually talked hormones to become more masculine. The other child was afraid to tell her

The women in my family seemed to generally follow the traditional role of submissive homemaker all the way down my maternal line until we came to my mother. She was spoken of with some awe after adventurously joining the Navy as one of the first women admitted as a sailor and then later taking a male dominated career as an Air Traffic Controller. I came to view traditional female roles as weak and undesirable. This example of social learning theory influenced my actions and thoughts, though not necessarily in the traditional way for most girls. In my younger years, to my embarrassment now, I saw myself as “not one of those girls” and loved the title of tomboy. My family seemed to encourage these behaviors and encouraged me to pursue an education and career that would fulfill the role of a “bread winner”. I think that this, in many ways, taught me that it was acceptable to diminish other women, especially those who were more traditionally feminine.

My grandma always told me to act like a lady. She would put into my mind that I should always sit with my legs crossed and never talk with food in my mouth. My grandma was the ultimate lady. Maybe I didn’t know what being a lady was all about back then, but I assure you that I know now.

The first experience that I forced me to think about my gender occurred when I was fairly young. I was playing tag with my best friend Matt and his sister Melissa. At one particular moment, it was my turn to attempt to “tag” them. When I was chasing Melissa, I pushed her slightly too hard and she tumbled to the ground. Neither of us thought anything about it, and we continued to play until dusk. After they left to return home, my mother came up to me and told me that I shouldn’t be so physical with Melissa the next time we play. I failed to understand her point. She did not seem to have a problem with the fact that I played with Matt the same way, but she began to explain to me that it is seen as inappropriate to push girls down in that manner. I apologized to my mother and told her that I would not do it again. Although she may have meant to teach me about

The intention was not to lower my self-esteem but to protect my image as a young girl and build my confidence. Gender roles were merely distinguished by knowing how to cook, laundry, appearance and speech. A couple of remarks made by my father and mother for example was, “you should know how to cook because how are you going to feed your children and husband?”, “be aware how you speak and look because men are going to think negatively about you”. Statements differentiated gender roles and how to behave based on gender.

From that day on, I never let my brother or any male or female ever tell me how being a girl puts me at some disadvantage. And I implore you to do the same. If you are a young woman and have ever been told that because you are a girl you can’t do something as efficiently or do something altogether, dig deep and prove them wrong. Get up into that batter’s box, and hit a grand slam, because you know in your heart and in your head that you are just as good as anyone else on that field.

When I was a kid me and my mom didn't really get along all that much, always had problems, and I never knew exactly why that was. I tried everything I could to avoid any and all fights and arguments, so I did everything she wanted and whatever she said to cease all of it. Things didn't get any better, they more like they got much much worse, I was finally able to move out in with biological father and things seemed to go good for awhile I was sent to military school and made out of that. Moved back home and moved out on my own and working 2 jobs to pay for all the bills, so when you're living with mom and dad don't take for granted what they give you cause its hard when you're on your own. Graduated high school doing everything that a young

Growing up, genders learn right from wrong and how they are supposed to act as their specific gender. Boys, are usually taught how to be aggressive but gentle. Playing video games, wrestling and riding four-wheelers is okay for them to do. They were taught not to be mean to girls, wear pink or to express their sadness. Being a boy was not that hard to manage, for girls it was a little harder. Girls, are usually taught how to be compassionate and elegant. They helped around the kitchen, played with Barbie’s and played dress up. They were taught not to do anything a boy would do. If either were to step out of their gender role they would be looked down upon and would be reminded of how they should be acting. In today’s society that is still a

As a child, I was under the impression that as a girl you wore dresses, loved the colors pink and purple, and played with dolls. I am not sure if that was because those are the thing I chose to do as a child, or if it was a result of the things I was surrounded by and heard while growing up, although it was probably a combination of both. I distinctly remember the day my mom asked me whether I wanted to take ballet or soccer. I adamantly told her that I wanted to take ballet because soccer was for boys. She told me that both boys and girls played soccer, however, that didn’t change my mind. I was a “girlie girl,” and I don’t believe anything anyone could have done would have changed that. In third grade, there was a boy in my ballet class. While we were told by our ballet teacher that many boys take dance classes, many of us girls found it strange at first. He continued dancing at our studio for a few years, and I later

I grew up with six younger brothers. On many occasions, my brothers insinuated I was inferior due to my gender. For instance, when I informed my brothers I was going to try out for Little League Baseball, they had a fit. In fact, they told me I would never make the team because I ran and threw like a girl. Well, this made me more determined than ever; especially after my parents and brothers told me to join a girls’ softball team instead. So, I signed up for tryouts and I made the team. That year I started at the first base position on a team with two of my brothers. That shut my brothers up for a while. Through the years, I proved to my brothers that girls can do anything boys can do and I’d like to believe they are better men for it.

I've always been quite the tomboy but back then most girls were very girly always wearing dresses, flowers, and the sequin shirts. So when I would come to school with my blue John Cena WWE shirt they would just look at me weird so then I would beg my mom to buy me dress just so I could “fit in” with the other girl's. Clothes were just a little part of it I also had to change the way I acted instead of trying to be tough I had to pretend to be prissy and preppy but one day I just threw mud in the girl's face literally and just went back to being myself after all because I just thought I shouldn't be ashamed of how I am because this is how i'm going to be for the rest of my life they aren't going to be the ones in my shoes.

Gender identity is the personal conception of being a man or a woman and the society creates standards and comes up with gender roles basing them on existing norms and traditions which will in turn influence gender identity. For instance, most societies associate strength and dominance to be masculine roles while caring and assisting or subordination known to be feminine roles. This clearly makes gender identity be bred within the society. One’s identity is important as it influences his or her life through events like life experiences, how one is being taken or treated, how to do one associate or socialize with others, the type of job one will have to do and also opportunities that may come up favoring a certain type of gender identity. One is also likely to face obstacles or discrimination due to his or her identity.

A time where I learned a gender role was from my dad, he has taught me to take care of my brother and look out for him. Since I’m the older brother I have to protect from all the bad this world gives. No matter what happens I will always support my brother in whatever he does along with making sure he going in the right direction in life. One thing my dad told me when I was starting middle school is that if my brother ever got into a fight with another person that he wants me to jump in and help my brother out if he’s getting a beating. That's a role I would gladly accept because no one going to beat up on my little brother accept for me, I had no problem with that. Another thing he would always tell me would be that always stay close to your