Introduction
Socialization refers to the practice of interaction with other human beings, where one becomes aware of other human beings, their culture, as well as their surroundings (Giddens & Griffiths, 2006). Socialization occurs through agents of socialization like the family, parents, school, community members, as well as neighbors, and the media. The first experience of socialization is in the family since this is the environment one is first familiar with.
This study aims to understand the process of socialization as well as find out how I deal with conflicts arising from the various agents of socialization
Socialization process
The process of socialization starts in the family as it is the primary agent of socialization, where a child acquires attitudes, as well as behavior-where permanent close and common relations are shaped. A child learns about his expected mode of conduct from the family. The family forms a basis of permanent bonds while other kinds of bonds are acquired through other agents of socialization. School is one of the secondary sources of socialization, where an individual is instilled with knowledge, skills as well as values, deemed important by society. Individuals learn to cooperate in the company of their peers (Giddens & Griffith, 2006). Peers wield a lot of power in a child. Peer groups mainly consist of children in a given age group and with the same social status. For a child to fit in a given peer group, he or she has to follow given criteria since this does not happen automatically like in a family. The interaction of a child with his or her peer groups unties the bond a child has with the family; a child then is given provision to an optional way of behaving as well as acquiring values plus norms. Complete socialization of a child occurs when a child learns how to manage the mode of dealing with conflict arising from the different values obtained from the family as well as from peers-who are the significant, others.
Socialization also occurs through the media in form of television, magazines, newspapers, radio plus the internet. The media influences a child is a great way, as most of the time the child spends time watching television. Aggression by many children is said to be caused by the TV, which features many violence-related programs.
Culture
Through socialization, one’s feelings, thoughts, actions, and behavior are shaped through learning one’s culture. Culture refers to values, beliefs, and behavior as well as material items communally owned by a certain set of the populace. It is people’s way of life. Culture influences our religion, eating habits, values mode of dressing, and so on. Culture molds our worldview based on principles of beauty, decency, and achievement. While some cultures regard competition highly other cultures promote cooperation. Diversity in culture is a consequence of varied spiritual viewpoints, way of life, as well as environmental setting (Chamberlain, 2009). Culture is best transmitted through language. Though language molds culture, culture can also mold language. For example, with the emergence of internet technology, a new language has come up. Therefore, the internet culture has molded the formation of a new language.
The Irish culture is wealthy and varied. The Irish people are very friendly and very much into the pub culture. The media in Ireland is very much concerned with religion such that it follows up stories related to religion as the Irish are very religious. On the other hand, the Canadians are Christians and this could be a contributing factor in my not practicing my Catholic upbringing, due to the Canadian influence where the Canadian constitution gives a provision for immigrants to practice Christianity for them to be legal Canadian citizens.
The memories of a human being are entrenched in one’s culture and social construction, by understanding one’s environment through one’s background, as well as tradition (Chamberlain, 2009). Ethnicity forms a base of collective identity. Mixed racial distinctiveness on the other hand complicates the understanding of one’s heritage. Once one has two ethnic identities, one tends to be torn between the two cultures one hails from (Rockquemore, et al, 2009).
Gender role socialization
Traditionally socialization of the gender role in Ireland was such that the female gender was seen as inferior to the male, and they, therefore, had to give up their comfort to ensure that the male gender was comfortable. This socialization took place in the family, as well as other agents of socialization. The female gender was also not supposed to inherit property. However, due to the fight for equality in the world, the female roles are wide and she can do what was not traditionally accepted as her role. Due to the fight for equality conflict arises as to exactly is the role of the female.
Conflict in the process of socialization can be done through conforming or lack of cooperation to the stipulated norms.
Conclusion
Socialization starts in the family and the course of ones life we get socialized by the various agents of socialization. In the process of socialization, there is bound to be conflict, and this can be resolve through the self- reflection. In this case, one takes a good look at her life and chooses what values to maintain. In this case, I choose not to follow my catholic roots.
References
Chamberlain, M. (2009). Diasporic Memories: Community, individuality, and Creativity- A Life Stories Perspective. The Oral History Review, 1-11.
Giddens, A., & Griffiths, S. (2006). Sociology, New York: Polity.
Rockquemore, K., Brunsma, L., & Delgado, J. (2009). Racing to Theory or Theorizing Race? Understanding the Struggle to Build a Multiracial Identity Theory. Journal of Social Issues, 65(1): 13-34.