Research Has Indicated That Children Have A Strong Desire To Mimic Or Be

Research has indicated that children have a strong desire to mimic or be like those they consider similar to themselves. (Pidgeon, 1994; Thorne, 1993). For example, Boys create and preserve their masculinity through fear and rejection of whatever might be construed as female (Jordan 1995, 75). The understanding of themselves as different from girls, the participating in activities that make them feel like boys, the avoidance of pursuits or behaviours others might associate with girls, and most importantly copying what they perceive to be masculine behaviours help boys determine and reinforce their feelings and understanding of being male in the traditional male/female gender binary.
This is not limited to boys. Most children are highly motivated to learn and practice whatever actions or concepts they deem necessary to achieve what they personally consider to be gender-appropriate behaviour. This gender-appropriate behaviour is usually developed at home from a very early age, and reinforced through school and community experiences (Thorne 1993). Unless those in positions of authority or influence specifically address issues such as social justice and gender bias, most children will come to believe that the two distinct genders, male and female, and their associated contemporary gender boundaries are both natural and correct.

HEGEMONY
The definition of genders within society is often hegemonic. To be able to recognise constricting or reinforcing behaviours within the area of gender, then, it is important to first examine how the society in question defines masculinity or femininity. There tends to be more research on hegemonic masculinity than femininity, presumably because of its impact on world systems of governance, economics, and power (Cohn and Weber 1999). The patriarchal society that still dominates world society rests on such masculine definition (Cohn and Enloe 2003). Whilst women are increasingly included and allowed positions of influence in such systems, most would concur the systems still operate by and for men, as they were designed. Women who participate must do so within a male construct and paradigm, which is sometimes at odds to their own preferences for dealing with a situation (Cohn and Enloe 2003).
MALE HEGEMONY
Connell (1995) first developed the term 'hegemonic masculinity' to describe the definition of masculinity preferred by society. He argued that at any particular moment in history, there are number of different masculinities presented in a given society. However, society values one or a few masculinities over the others, setting this definition up as the ideal to which men (and boys) should aspire. This ideal is constructed in relation to both these other masculinities and to femininity in the society.