Final answer:
From the functionalist perspective in Sociology, gender norms and sanctions maintain social stability by ensuring that individuals fulfill societal roles deemed necessary. Sanctions for deviation from these norms reinforce gender expectations in society. This perspective provides insight into the socialization process and the perpetuation of gender roles.
Step-by-step explanation:
When choosing one of the major theoretical perspectives in Sociology to explain gender norms/sanctions or the socialization process of those norms, let's consider the functionalist perspective. This perspective views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. Gender roles, from a functionalist point of view, are seen as a means to fulfill the necessities of a society. For example, the traditional role of a woman as a caregiver is perceived as functional for the rearing and nurturing of children. The socialization process, through which individuals come to understand societal norms and expectations for gender, involves institutions such as family, education, and media. These institutions help to perpetuate the continuation of gender roles that are deemed necessary for the society to function smoothly.
Sanctions for deviating from these roles might include social ostracism or ridicule, thus reinforcing the gender expectations within a society and maintaining the status quo. Functionalist theories can be critiqued for potentially justifying inequalities as 'necessary' for social order, but they remain a valuable lens through which gender norms and socialization can be examined.
Learn more about Functionalism and Gender Norms