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Sex Differences in Sexual Socialization

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  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science

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Synonyms

Treatment of Males in Sexual Socialization; Treatment of Females in Sexual Socialization

Definition

How the social environment influences males’ and females’ expression of sexuality and gender identity.

Introduction

Sexual socialization is a process by which an individual develops his or her own identity by acquiring the skills, knowledge, and values of the gender they prefer (Schneewind 2001). In most societies, women are viewed as communal, warm, gentle, kind, and passive, whereas men are viewed as tough, aggressive, and assertive (Huddy and Terkildsen 1993). This entry will explain in further detail the differences between the socialization of gender roles and how they affect males and females differently throughout the lifespan.

Parental Influence

Parenting is one source of sexual socialization. There are a number of studies that have highlighted sex differences in communication between parents and their children. For example, conversations between fathers and adolescent...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Univeristy of South Carolina – Beaufort, Bluffton, SC, USA

    Maria Chowansky

Authors
  1. Maria Chowansky
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria Chowansky .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. University of South Carolina - Beaufort, Bluffton, SC, USA

    Carey Fitzgerald

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Chowansky, M. (2017). Sex Differences in Sexual Socialization. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3645-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3645-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

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