Gender Schema Theory (GST) - cognitive explanations of gender

What type of theory is the Gender Schema Theory? (GST)

Its a cognitive-developmental theory

- created by Martin & Halverson (1981)

the main assumptions of Gender Schema Theory (GST)

- kids understanding of gender changes with age

- shares Kohlberg's view that kids develop their understanding pf gender by actively structuring their own learning instead of passively observing & imitating role models (proposed by SLT explanation of gender development)

gender schema

a cognitive framework of beliefs & expectations related to gender that have derived from experience

- Builds a persons understanding of their own gender and gender appropriate behaviour in general

- used by our cognitive system

Why gender schemas begins to develop after the gender identity stage (after 3 yrs old)

Kids begin to search for info that encourages the development of gender schema

> this contrasts with Kohlberg's theory as it claims that this process only occurs at around age 7 when all three stages are complete

How gender schema (GS) determines behaviour

- GS expand to include a range of behaviour & personality traits

> for kids schemas are usually formed from stereotypes
>> these provide a framework that directs experience & understanding of themselves

> by 6, kids have a fixed & stereotyped view of gender appropriate behaviour
>> kids are likely to disregard info that doesn't fit with their existing schema

Why children have a better understanding of the schema for their gender

Ingroup info better tempered because...

> kids pay more attention to info relevant to their own gender (ingroup) rather than of the other (outgroup)

> at around 8, kids develop an elaborate schema for both genders

> ingroup identity also boosts the child's self-esteem

Strength - Research support

The key principles of GST are supported by evidence

Martin & Halverson (1983):
> kids under 6 were more likely to remember photos of stereotypically gender appropriate behaviour than gender inappropriate behaviour when tested a week later

>> kids tended to change the gender of the person doing the gender inappropriate behaviour, this making it appropriate

This GST assumption that 6 year old would do this & counters Kohlberg (as he predicts this would only occur after 6)

Weakness: Earlier gender identity

Gender identity likely develops earlier that GST suggested

Zosuls et al. (2009): longitudinal study
looked at the onset of gender identity data

Data was obtained from:
- twice-weekly reports from mums on their kids language from age 9-21 months
- videotaped analysis of the kids playing

> the key measure of gender identity was how and when kids labelled themselves as 'boy/girl'

>> this occurred on average at 19months
(Almost as soon as kids begin to communicate)

This suggests that kids have gender identity before this but just can't communicate it

Weakness: Earlier gender identity: Counterpoint

Zosuls et al.'s (2009) findings may not criticise the specific ages in the theory as GST specified the key point is the shift in thinking, not the specific age this shift occurs

> the ages specified are an average estimate not absolute

Strength: cultural differences

GST can account for cultural differences in stereotypical gender-appropriate behaviour

Cherry (2019):
> gender schema don't only influence how people process info but also what accounts as culturally-appropriate gender behaviour

> > e.g. in cultures with less rigid perception of gender, kids are likely to acquire a more fluid gender schema

+ Means that GST explains how gender schemas are transmitted though society and how cultural Feiffer ends in gender stereotypes arise

This contrasts with other gender development theories e.g. psychodynamic theory suggests that gender identity is driven by unconscious biological urges

Contrasting views from cognitive explanations on gender-appropriate behaviour

Both Kohlberg and GST have differing views on when kids start to display stereotypically gender-appropriate behaviour

GST: shortly after gender identity (3yrs old) because kids are in the process of building an ingroup gender schema, and so will select behaviours that correspond with their gender

Kohlberg: at age 6 as kids must achieve constancy before they begin to demonstrate gender-appropriate behaviour
Once they have they look for gender-appropriate Roel models to imitate