Media Influence and Research Limitations
Media acts as a powerful gender role model for children, providing clear but rigid stereotypes. Men are typically shown as independent and ambitious 'advice-givers', whilst women appear as dependent 'advice-seekers' in domestic settings. TV adverts reinforce this by showing men in professional roles and women in family contexts.
Children with greater media exposure tend to display more gender-stereotypical behaviours and attitudes. The media doesn't just confirm existing stereotypes - it actually teaches children what behaviours are likely to succeed, increasing their confidence in performing gender-appropriate actions.
However, cross-cultural research has significant flaws. Mead's work suffered from observer bias - she couldn't separate her own opinions from her observations, and follow-up studies revealed participants had misled her. There's also the problem of 'imposed etic' where Western researchers impose their cultural understanding on other societies, making findings potentially meaningless.
Reality Check: Cross-cultural research can't actually solve the nature-nurture debate because socialisation begins at birth, making it impossible to separate biological and cultural influences completely.