childhood socialization
For this project, you will use what you’ve learned about socialization to examine one aspect of the socialization of children. Choose one of the options below. Complete the fieldwork project, then write at least 900 words.Option 1: Children’s Cartoons
Watch at least one episode of a contemporary (currently airing) children’s cartoon (I suggest recording it so that you can watch it more than once). Write a reflection on the messages the cartoon conveys to children. Explain what you observed (what happened on the episode) and what you think the show communicates to children. In other words, explain not just what messages the show conveys, but how it conveys those messages.
Collect Data
You will need to take notes as you watch the cartoon so that you can accurately and systematically discuss your observations. Here are some questions you may want to take notes on as you watch:
What does the show communicate about the adults in children’s lives?
What does the show communicate about other children in their lives?
What does the show communicate about what traits are valuable in children? (What’s portrayed as “cool”?)
What does the show portray about race, class, gender and/or other social statuses?
Which characters receive most of the attention?
Was there an overt moral to the story? What were the more subtle lessons? Did they reinforce dominant messages from our society? Undermine them?
You do not need to address all of these questions; focus on those that seem most relevant. Your notes should include not just your answer to the questions, but the evidence that supports it (i.e., actual examples from the episode). You may also focus on other questions not listed here, but that are relevant to the issue of children and socialization.
See “Assignment Tips” below for guidance on how to systematically track your data.
Write Paper
As you write your paper about this project you will need to:
Describe the episode. Provide the basic show details (show and episode title, network on which it airs, ages to which it is targeted, etc.) as well as a basic plot summary. This portion of your paper should be approximately one paragraph.
Evaluate the episode as an agent of children’s socialization. Consider the following questions: How can TV shows be considered agents of socialization? What kinds of social/cultural messages are embedded in this episode? What kinds of effects might these messages have on children’s socialization (in terms of shaping their understanding of themselves/the world)? Do you think this has mainly a positive or negative influence on children’s socialization?
Directly incorporate course terminology and readings. As you evaluate the episode you should make direct connections to (at minimum) the following concepts and readings:
Socialization
Callero, Chapter 2
You’ll need to explain the general terms and points from the readings and directly explain how they relate to your project.
See “Assignment Tips” below for guidance on how to write your findings.
Option 2: Children’s Toys
Collect Data
Visit a toy store and write a reflection on the messages the toys (and the store itself) convey to children. In particular, you should focus on the differences between “boys’ toys” and “girls’ toys,” and the messages these toys convey about gender differences in our society.
You will need to take notes as you make your observations in the toy store. Consider the following questions:
How is the store organized? Is there a boys’ side and a girls’ side? If so, how can you tell which is which?
How can you tell whether a toy is for girls or boys? Does the store or toy company convey this in any way, either directly or indirectly (e.g., through store layout, packaging, etc.)?
If there are boys’ toys and girls’ toys, how do they differ?
How do toys that could be considered “gender neutral” differ from toys that are targeted for girls or boys?
Your notes should include not just your answer to the questions, but the evidence that supports it (i.e., actual examples from the toy store). You may also focus on other questions not listed here, but that are relevant to the issue of children and socialization.
See “Assignment Tips” below for guidance on how to systematically track your data.
Write Paper
As you write your 2-3 page paper about this project you will need to:
Describe your observations. Provide the basic details about the store location, size, layout, and the kinds of toys you saw. How did you systematically keep track of your data? This portion of your paper should be approximately one paragraph.
Evaluate the toy store/toys as an agent of children’s socialization. Consider the following questions: How can toys (and toy stores) be considered agents of socialization? What kinds of gender differences did you observe in the toys? What kinds of lessons might children learn from these toys about the differences between girls/women and boys/men? Do you think these toys have mainly a positive or negative influence on children’s socialization (or were there some you consider particularly positive, and others you consider particularly negative)?
Directly incorporate course terminology and readings. As you evaluate the episode you should make direct connections to (at minimum) the following concepts and readings:
Socialization
Callero, Chapter 2
You’ll need to explain the general terms and points from the readings and directly explain how they relate to your project.
See “Assignment Tips” below for guidance on how to write about your findings.
ASSIGNMENT TIPS
You will need to develop a systematic method for recording your observations, such as a chart that you can fill in. Your notes should include not just your answers to the questions above, but the evidence that supports these answers (i.e., actual numbers/percentages and examples).
Example of one way to keep track of your data (you will need to choose categories that are relevant to your own project/research questions):
#
Toy
Who is pictured on packaging
Themes
Colors
Other observations
1
Barbie
Girl
Fashion/ appearance
Pink, purple
Girl and doll are dressed identically; girl is smiling
2
Water gun
3 Boys
Competition/ mock violence
Red, blue
Boys are pictured in aggressive play with each other
Example of how to write about findings (think about how much detail you would need to include in your notes in order to support this finding):
While 75% of the girls’ toys included the color pink, only 10% of the boys’ toys did. In fact, pink was used to “gender” toys that could otherwise be gender neutral. For instance, while a toys such as a Lego set has no clear gender association, the set I observed was made a “girl’s toy” by packaging it in pink and making it associated with the domestic sphere (home/garden).
AUDIENCE
Write your paper for readers who haven’t taken a sociology class before. You’ll need to explain the concepts you use in enough detail that they would make sense to this audience.
REQUIREMENTS
Your paper should be at least 900 words.
Include your data collection notes (the notes you took to keep track of the show messages or toys; not included in the word length)
You must use (directly reference/discuss) at least one of the assigned course readings.
If you use the exact wording from any source, you must use quotation marks and provide a page number. If it is not already clear who the source is, you must also provide the author’s name.
Do not use any outside sources; stick to the course materials.
BASIC GUIDELINES
Format your paper using the following criteria:
12 point font
Double-spaced
You do not need to provide a reference list for the course materials you cite. However, you must adhere to the principles for academic integrity by carefully and responsibly citing any material you draw from in your paper (including course materials). Provide in-text citations (with the author’s last name) for material you reference. If you use another author’s exact wording, you must put this wording in quotes and provide a page number as well. If you use a source other than course materials, you must provide a reference list with the full source information.
RESOURCES
I strongly encourage you to work with a Writing Tutor through LSS as you write your paper.
The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) (链接到外部网站。) is another good general writing resource.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
This project will help develop and demonstrate the following student learning outcomes:
Course-Level Student Learning Outcomes
Apply sociological concepts to think about and understand social phenomena in everyday life
Explain sociological theories
Analyze scholarly sources and support ideas and perspectives with research
Program Area Student Learning Outcomes
Analyze, evaluate, and/or solve problems using multiple methodologies
College-Wide Abilities
Think logically and critically
