It is often observed that men, in general, behave more aggressively than women, and that women seem to be more nurturing than men. In this paper, I argue that these observed differences between men and women are wrong and that they are simply socially constructed, based on social processes and learned through gender socialization. First, I will analyze the impact of various agents of socialization, such as media, family, school and peer group, in portraying men to be more aggressive than women. Then, I will examine women's aggressive behavior. Finally, I will conclude that men and women are both have the same potential and capability in acting aggressively and violently. Since the existence of humankind, men are portrayed to be more aggressive than women. I hope this paper will offer some new perspectives to this general belief. In my view, this perception is based mostly on the observation of different social behaviors for men and women in the everyday life. I plan to argue that these observed differences between men and women are created and enforced by various agents of socialization in the society, such as media, family, school and peer group (Schaefer & Haaland, 2009).
Media plays a major role in promoting the aggressive characteristics in men and the nurturing characteristics in women. Media not only establishes certain standard of behaviors for men and women to follow, it also encourages and enforces the gender stereotype. Media constantly educates the public with images and ideas of popular qualities and characteristics of being a real man, which include strong, powerful, active, tough, muscular, undestroyable, violent, aggressive etc. Men are encouraged to "protect the weak and defenseless and be courteous and protective to subordinates" (Eagly & Steffen, 1986, p.310), and to fight for what they believe in. On the other hand, women are often encouraged with feminine behaviors and expected to look young, thin, beautiful, and be quiet, weak, and caring.