Final answer:
Gender socialization is the correct term describing the process where an individual learns gender roles through interactions with family, education, peers, and media, solidifying behaviors and traits society expects based on biological sex.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gender socialization occurs as an individual learns the expectations of being a man or woman in specific situations through interactions with others. The correct option from the choices provided is: 1) Socialization. Gender socialization involves learning the behaviors, personal traits, and social positions that society attributes to one's biological sex. This process is facilitated by four major agents of socialization: family, education, peer groups, and mass media, with secondary exposure from agents such as religion and the workplace.
Children learn at a young age that there are distinct expectations for boys and girls. Cross-cultural studies show that by age two or three, children are aware of gender roles, which become firmly entrenched by age four or five. These roles are often based on stereotypes, which can lead to overgeneralizing the attitudes, traits, or behavior patterns of women or men.
It is through repeated exposure to these social influences that men and women may come to believe that they are acting out of natural disposition when, in fact, they are following a socially constructed role. Understanding this process is crucial for recognizing and addressing gender stereotypes and the basis of sexism.