Construction of masculinity in childhood. Transitions from Preschool to Elementary School

Abstract

In order to identify how processes of construction of masculinity are gestated in the school space from the early years of childhood, the transitions that boys experience between 3 and 12 years of age, as well as the role that girls play in these processes, an ethnographic observation was carried out in a preschool and a primary school located in the state of Michoacán. The observation was made in the playground during recess time. Three axes of analysis were used: types of play, use of physical spaces and interaction between peers. In preschool, it was observed that the youngest boys (3 years old) shared their games almost equally with the girls, while the older boys (5 years old) were already organized preferably by sex, in activities where physical strength intervenes and incipient forms of "courtship" or "harassment" towards girls appear. Among primary school boys, the distance between girls and the "feminine" is accentuated while the masculine associated with competition, strength and physical skills is strengthened. The adverse implications that this gender socialization has for boys and girls are analyzed and it is proposed to design educational materials that allow boys to have other symbolic references to live masculinity from other ethical and political coordinates.

Keywords: Masculinity, childhood, transitions, school, gender.