This master’s thesis examines the reproduction of gender stereotypes and patriarchal norms in the everyday practices of children’s socialization. It is grounded in the understanding of gender as a social construct and investigates how representations of femininity, masculinity, and gender roles are formed, transmitted, and reinforced through interactions between children and adults. Particular attention is given to processes of early socialization, the role of family, peers, and educational environments, as well as the ways in which everyday activities reproduce societal expectations related to gender. The aim of the study was to explore how gender stereotypes and patriarchal norms emerge in the everyday practices of children and adults, which forms of socialization contribute to their reinforcement, and how gendered expectations, divisions of labour, and power relations are reflected in these practices. The study is based on a qualitative research approach. The empirical part was conducted in two residential youth institutions, namely in Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Naples (Italy). Data collection took place between March and June 2026 in Ljubljana and between October and December 2026 in Naples. In total, approximately 85 hours of observation were carried out in various everyday situations, including leisure time, meals, organized activities, schoolwork, and play. Based on the observations in both institutions, it was found that gender stereotypes and patriarchal norms are reproduced through everyday interactions between children and adults. In the observed situations, recurring patterns emerged in which specific traits, interests, and behaviours were attributed to girls and boys on the basis of socially constructed gender categories. The results show that gender stereotypes begin to form in early childhood and are reinforced through various processes of socialization. In both settings, similar patterns of attributing characteristics, interests, and behaviours to individuals based on socially assigned gender categories were observed. Care, kindness, emotionality, and neatness were more frequently associated with femininity, whereas strength, activity, athleticism, technical skills, career success, and emotional restraint were more often associated with masculinity. The findings indicate that such expectations are reproduced through symbolic play, the selection of activities, adults’ comments, and peer interactions. The study also shows that mechanisms of social control play an important role in maintaining gender norms, contributing to the reinforcement of normative understandings of gender. At the same time, the results indicate that gender stereotypes are not innate but are gradually internalized through socialization processes. In younger children, stereotypical perceptions were less pronounced, suggesting that gender norms develop and consolidate progressively over time. An important finding of the study is also the reproduction of patriarchal power relations, as males were more frequently positioned in roles of authority, decision-making, and control, while females were more often associated with caregiving and relational roles. This distribution contributes to the naturalization of inequality and the maintenance of traditional understandings of social roles. The study thus confirms that gender stereotypes and patriarchal norms are the result of social processes reproduced through everyday interactions, institutions, and cultural practices, and that they significantly influence the formation of children’s identities, interests, and life opportunities.
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