Psychological features of gender socialization students of higher education institutions

Abstract

The article is devoted to the topical problem of gender socialization of students of higher education
institutions. The importance of gender issues for the successful socialization of youth and necessity of introducing a
gender component in regional and national development programs are substantiated. The particular importance in
this regard is given to the education system, which is a powerful tool for reproducing gender and social relations.
The authors of the article pay attention to the fact that in the modern education system there are still hidden
mechanisms to reinforce gender stereotypes and sometimes gender inequality. Among such mechanisms there are
three following: first, the organization of the educational institution itself (gender relations at work, gender
stratification of the teaching profession); secondly, the content of objects; thirdly – the style of teaching. The need to
neutralize these mechanisms is an important task of promoting gender equality in society.
Gender socialization is considered in the article as a process of assimilation of social norms, rules,
behaviors, attitudes in accordance with the ideas about gender role, its formation and purpose. It is noted that one of
the important indicators of successful gender socialization is the formation of active gender tolerance. In turn, sexism
is an indicator of failure in this process. Gender tolerance is seen as an unbiased attitude towards members of the
opposite sex and people who are uncharacteristic of their gender. Sexism is manifested in attitudes and behaviors
aimed at dominating one gender group over another.
The article presents the results of an empirical study, which was attended by 60 students of higher education.
It was found that modern youth, compared to their predecessors, know much more about gender roles, gender
stereotypes, gender tolerance, gender identity and more. And this knowledge mostly becomes internalized regulators
of behavior. Traditional gender attitudes are gradually losing their decisive influence on students’ lives.
The article also identifies prospects for further research on the stated topic