Kohlberg's theory

Stage 1:

Stage 1: Gender Identity

• 2-3 years

• Can identify/label their own sex

• Can identify other’s sex

• Gender is not fixed

Stage 2:

Gender Stability

• 3-4 years

• Understand that they will always be a boy/girl

• Concerned with external changes in appearance

Stage 3:

Gender Constancy

• 6-7 years

• Understand gender is constant

• It doesn’t matter if a boy wears a dress, he is still a boy

• Biological maturation

Research support

Damon (1977) told 4 and 6 year olds about George who liked to play with dolls. 4 year olds said it was fine, 6 year olds said it was wrong (gender constancy and rigid stereotypes).

Imposed etic

Kohlberg claims the stages are universal, this is an imposed etic.

Oppossing findings

Martin and Halverson (1983) children under 6 were more likely to remember photographs of stereotypically gender-appropriate behaviour than not when tested a week later. Children tended to change the gender in gender-inappropriate tasks.