Can you identify any instance where you felt that what you learnt from the family was at variance from your peer group or may be media or even school?
One instance of variance I can identify is regarding gender roles. In my family, I learned that certain household tasks are meant for girls. However, at school, the hidden curriculum sometimes reinforces this when girls are expected to sweep classrooms. Yet some schools try to counter this by making both boys and girls do tasks not normally expected of them.
Another instance relates to behavioural codes. In the family, parents enforce codes of conduct due to their power and authority. In peer groups, however, I discovered a different kind of interaction where rules of behaviour could be tested and explored in a more egalitarian manner compared to the dependence inherent in the family situation.
The diversity of socialising agencies like family, school, peer group and media leads to many differences in outlooks between children and the parental generation.
Explanation
This question asks students to reflect on how different socialising agencies can transmit different values and behaviours. The textbook context highlights that the existence of multiple socialising agencies leads to differences in outlooks between generations. Key points from the context include: (1) Schools have a 'hidden curriculum' beyond formal subjects - like gendered expectations around sweeping; (2) Peer groups offer egalitarian relationships where rules can be tested, unlike the dependent relationship in families where parents enforce codes of conduct; (3) The diversity of agencies creates variance in what children learn. A good student answer should identify specific instances of such variance using these concepts.