Final answer:
Keith is learning about gender roles through socialization as he absorbs societal values about male behavior, such as the expectation for men to not show emotion. This process is reinforced by play and societal reactions to behavior that deviates from these prescribed gender norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
When 7-year-old Keith wonders if a baseball player is crying after an injury and hears his friend say that 'guys are tough, they don't cry,' he is learning about gender roles through socialization. This learning process involves absorbing the societal values, beliefs, and attitudes, such as the stereotype that men should not display emotion, which is traditionally viewed as a sign of weakness.
Gender sterotyping is the application of oversimplified ideas about the traits and behaviors of males and females. Keith's scenario reflects the societal script that expects men to be tough and unemotional, congruent with the cultural script for masculinity.
Children typically start to understand these gender roles quite early, by the age of two or three. By four or five, most are deeply engaged in behaviors that reflect their culture's expectations of gender-appropriate behavior. Play, for example, is an essential aspect through which children learn these gender roles. Boys are often encouraged to play with toys that foster aggression and solitary play, while girls are given toys that encourage nurturing and social play.
When children do not adhere to these prescribed gender norms, they may face negative consequences from their peers, such as being criticized or marginalized, which is part of the socialization that reinforces gender roles. This can be particularly intense for boys who deviate from these norms due to societal expectations of masculinity.