4. Discuss the concept of socialization, particularly socialization into gender roles. In your response, address Mora's major findings regarding pubescence and discuss how his findings contribute to the study of gender and masculinity, in particular. For young males, pubescence is a time to prove themselves as adults by emulating masculine clichés found in older peers, family, the neighborhood, and the media. The male body sees some of the most noticeable changes during puberty. As such, the body becomes the main evidence that boys use to prove themselves as men and no longer boys. Puberty developments are certainly influenced by culture, social context and time. In Richard Mora's study of how hegemonic masculinity influences the stage of pubescence for boys, he examines how biological changes within the male body influence the socialization of ten Latino sixth grade boys. First, Mora makes distinctions about how working white and middle-class students experience puberty, which in most cases is unlikely to be discussed with peers (189). However, Mora observes the opposite among Romero's Latino boys, all of whom find plenty of reason to express their pride in their slowly changing bodies. Among these boys, puberty is more of a social achievement that brings rewards in terms of dominance and congratulations from male peers. Young males have a tendency to pay attention to their physical attributes as a kind of trophies that indicate certain levels of maturity. The socialization of this comes from all the institutions of social life, but Mora makes distinctions regarding the ten Latino boys he observes: focusing on peers, neighborhood and media influences. Within poor and working-class Latino neighborhoods, Mor...... middle of paper ...... was based on heteronormative expectations, such as having a reputation for being with many different girls. The law has now evolved from energy directed at physical competitions with each other to energy directed at the opposite sex, showing concern for all women. Above all, the ten Latino boys that Richard Mora observes in this period have a desire for control. Mostly control of one's social identity; however, due to the various inequalities and social differences that come with being working-class or poor-class Latino children in urban areas, boys are forced to overcompensate and exaggerate the only favorable aspect and privilege they have: male privilege. The socialization of this happens early and in some cases is necessary if boys expect to survive contentedly in their social environment or even get half the recognition received by their white male peers..