ABSTRACT
Gender identity refers to the degree to which a person sees themself as masculine or feminine given society's definition of what it means to be a man or woman. Society decides what being male or female means, with males generally defining themselves as masculine and females defining themselves as feminine. Gender socialization is the process by which people learn to behave in a certain way, as dictated by societal beliefs, values, attitudes, and norms. These gender norms are learned through a variety of socializing agents, including parents and caregivers, mass media, educators, school curriculum, extracurricular activities, religion, and peers. Studying gender and its role in exercise is important for a number of reasons. It is of primary importance due to the multitude of health benefits associated with regular exercise. Gender has been found to play a role in the nature and type of barriers faced by an individual.
