Cognitive Explanation: Kohlberg's theory

Stages in development

Kohlberg (1966): cognitive-developmental theory of gender based on idea that child’s understanding of gender becomes more sophisticated with age
link with age not because of experience
biological maturation - as brain matures so does thinking
understanding of gender runs parallel to intellectual development as the child matures biologically
gender development progresses through 3 stages

Stage 1: Gender Identity

2 -3 years
children correctly identify themselves boy/girl
children identify others as boys/men or girls/women
correctly respond to questions like “Which one of these is like you?” when shown picture of men/women
understanding of gender based on external physical characteristics (e.g. hair length)
their understanding of gender tends not to stretch beyond simple labelling
don’t view gender as fixed time/situations

Stage 2 - gender stability

3-4 years
realisation that their gender is fixed over time/situations
don’t understand others have fixed gender
gets confused about external changes in male/female appearances (e.g. hair length - man with long hair = women)
believe gender changes if they engage in activity associated with different gender (e.g. a builder who’s a woman)

Stage 3 - gender constancy

6 years
recognise gender remains constant across time/situations - themselves & others
No longer fooled by changes in outward appearance
may still regard a man wearing a dress as unusual - he’s still a man
significant in that children begin to seek out gender-appropriate role models to identify with/imitate
once a child has fully developed/internalised concept of gender at constancy stage → active search for evidence that confirms concept
tendency towards gender stereotyping
complete understanding of gender
understanding of bio differences

STRENGTH: research support

evidence suggest gender stereotyping does emerge around age of 6
Damon (1977): told children story about George, boy who played with dolls & asked children to comment on the story
4 year olds said it was fine for George to if he wanted to
6 year olds thought it was wrong
beyond understanding of what boys/girls do
develop rules about what boys/girls ought to do - stereotyping
gender constancy - formed rigid stereotypes regarding gender appropriate behaviour

LIMITATION: counterpoint

research often challenges idea that interest in gender-appropriate behaviour only develops around age 6
Bussey & Bandura (1999): 4 yr olds - felt good about playing with gender-appropriate toys & bad about opposite
contradicts Kohlberg’s theory
supports gender schema theory
children absorb gender-appropriate info as soon as they identify themselves (gender identity 2-3)

LIMITATION: methodological problem

Bem (1989): criticised methodology used in many studies of link between gender/cognitive development
key test in studies is whether a child understands that gender is constant despite appearance/context changes
Bem argued it’s little wonder younger children are confused by this as in our culture this is how we demarcate one gender from another
we identify men and women through things like clothes/hairstyle
in reality: best way = physical differences (e.g. genitalia - something that young children don’t understand)
40% children 3-5 years were able to demonstrate constancy if shown naked photo of child to be identified first
suggests typical way of testing gender constancy misrepresents knowledge of younger kids

LIMITATION: degrees of constancy

Martin et al (2002): praise Kohlberg’s theory for recognising that children’s understanding own and others’ gender guides their thoughts/behaviour
point out how and when this understanding affects children’s gender-related behaviour = unclear
Martin et al suggest different degrees of gender constancy
initial degree orient children to importance of gender in choosing friends/seeking info - develops before age of 6
2nd degree develops later - heighten children’s responsiveness to gender norms, particularly undert conditions of conflict (appropriate clothes/attitudes)
acquisition of contancy = moral gradual process - begins earlier than thought