Cognitive explanation- Kohlbergs theory

What is his theory

• emphasises role of thinking/cognition in development of gender

• Child’s understanding if gender develops with age (maturation)

• 3 stages in gender development- gender role behaviour only occurs after understanding that gender if fixed and constant, has to go through all stages

Gender identity (labelling)

• Occurs at age 2-3

• basic understanding of male and female

• Categorise ppl into male/female groups but labels aren’t always used correctly, unaware sex is permanent

• Can correctly label themselves as a boy or girl

Gender stability

• Occurs at age 4-6

• understating their own gender is fixed (buys become men, girls become women)

• Categorisation based on characteristics like clothing or hair length

• E.g. nay think women who cut long hair short has changed gender

Gender constancy (consistency)

• occurs at age 7

• Appreciation gender if fixed over time and across situations, have more complex understanding on permanency of gender

• Observe models of same sex to identify gender appropriate behavhiour (self-socialisation)

• E.g. women with shaved head is still female

Strength- research support from Slaby & Frey

• Interviewed children to see if they matches the stages kohlberg suggested

• Assesed gender identity by questions like- is this doll a girl or a boy or are you a girl or boy

• Assessed gender stability by questions like- would you be a mum or dad when you grow up

• Assessed gender constancy by questions like- would you be a girl/ boy if you worse opposite sex clothing

Responses they gave matched Kolbergs stages

• found older children with high gender constancy paid more attention to same sex model than younger with lower

• Supports theory that children understand gender differences at diff aged, gender concepts develop through active structuring of child’s experiences

Strength- explains both nature & nurture in gender development

• process of brain maturation is biological factor so nature is involved in gender development

• Nurture is involved through child’s process of self-socialition