10 - gender dev.
Study Guide: Gender Development (Week 10)
Attributions and Gender Stereotyping
Gender Stereotyping of Children:
Behavior and personality traits are often attributed based on sex stereotypes.
Reinforcement of Gender Stereotypes:
Girls spend 50% more time on household chores than boys globally.
Determinations of gender are often based on external, observable characteristics (e.g., clothing, hair, mannerisms), which can be misleading.
How Expectations Shape Children:
Modeling: Adults demonstrate expected behaviors.
Reinforcement: Desired behaviors are rewarded, and behaviors are repeated.
Directing: Children are actively guided toward or away from certain activities.
Approval/Disapproval: Children learn to adapt their actions to gain approval.
Sex vs. Gender
Sex: Biological and physical attributes at birth, genetic composition, and hormonal influence.
Gender: An individually and socially constructed identification as male or female.
Gender Typing
Definition: The process by which children become aware of their biological sex and acquire the motives, values, and behaviors appropriate for their gender.
Development of Gender Typing:
Gender Identity: Awareness of being male or female and its stability over time.
Gender Role Stereotypes: Understanding societal expectations of male and female traits and behaviors.
Gender-Typed Behaviors: Favoring same-sex activities and playmates.
Facets of Gender Typing
Cognitive (Gender Identity):
Understanding one’s own gender category as permanent, stable, and consistent.
Stages:
Labeling:
By age 2, children can identify same-sex pictures.
By age 2.5–3, most can label their own and others’ sex.
Stability:
Understanding that one’s gender remains the same over time.
Constancy/Consistency:
Realizing gender does not change despite alterations in appearance (e.g., a boy wearing a floppy hat is still a boy).
Requires grasp of basic genital differences (children lacking this understanding at age 4 do not show gender constancy).
Social (Developing Gender Roles):
Children learn societal attitudes and behaviors associated with their gender.
Gender Roles:
Stereotypes:
Across cultures, males are often associated with aggression, strength, and cruelty.
Females are often associated with gentleness, appreciativeness, and soft-heartedness.
By age 2, children associate objects (e.g., vacuum = women, tools = men) with gender.
By age 3 or 4, children associate occupations and activities with gender stereotypes (e.g., men = firefighters, women = nurses).
Behavior:
Children’s actions often align with stereotypes before fully understanding gender differences.
Gender Stereotypes and Social Learning
Persistence of Gender-Stereotyped Behavior:
Children’s behaviors often align with stereotypes even in gender-neutral environments.
Social Learning Theory:
Children are socialized to learn gender stereotypes and behaviors through encouragement and modeling.
Kohlberg’s Perspective:
Children actively seek out models of their identified gender after establishing gender identity.
They are not passive recipients of socialization but actively shape their understanding.
Gender Diversity
Understanding Gender Diversity:
Children asserting a different gender identity develop it as clearly and consistently as their peers.
Factors Influencing Gender Expression:
Exposure to stereotypes.
Identification with significant individuals.
Stability of Internal Sense:
Internal gender identity is generally stable but acknowledges the possibility of shifts.
Key Takeaways
Gender development involves a complex interplay of biological, social, and cognitive factors.
Societal influences play a significant role in shaping children’s understanding and behaviors related to gender.
Encouraging a flexible approach to gender can support children’s self-expression and reduce the constraints of rigid stereotypes.