Final answer:
Lisette engaged in gender socialization when she told her son boys don't wear dresses, implying adherence to traditional gender roles. Gender socialization involves the passing down of societal norms about gender behaviors, which can often lead to enforcing stereotypes and sexism. Educational environments play a significant role in either perpetuating or challenging these gender expectations.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Lisette told her son that he could not wear a dress to kindergarten because "boys don't wear dresses," she engaged in the process of gender socialization. Gender socialization is the process by which people learn to behave in a way that is dictated by societal values, beliefs, and attitudes regarding gender roles. Lisette, perhaps unintentionally, reinforced the traditional gender stereotype that dresses are exclusive to girls, which is an oversimplified notion about the behavior patterns of men and women. Such actions contribute to the reinforcement of gender roles and gender stratification from a young age. Gender stereotypes form the basis of sexism and involve overgeneralizing about the attitudes, traits, or behavior patterns of women or men. This act of enforcement by Lisette reflects larger societal patterns where children are subject to intense ridicule for gender nonconformity, which can result in criticism or marginalization by their peers. In educational settings, schools and teachers often perpetuate gender differentiation through various means, such as how teachers respond to students, the types of activities and toys that are encouraged, and the division of subjects by perceived gender appropriateness. Addressing these patterns requires conscious efforts to engage with children beyond their appearances and to foster environments, like the genderless approach at Egalia preschool in Sweden, that eliminate the reinforcement of traditional gender expectations.