Gender Development Dr. E. Blakemore Psychology 235 Gender Development Dr. E. Blakemore

Terminology Sex and gender sex - biology (genes, chromosomes, hormones, anatomy, etc.) gender - either cultural or learned - or some combination Are males and females “the two sexes” or “the two genders”?

More terminology Gender identity Gender roles Gender typing appearance, behaviors, characteristics, roles, occupations, activities, toys Gender typing

Theories of Gender Development Psychoanalytic Theory Social Learning Theory Cognitive Theories Cognitive Developmental Theory (Kohlberg) Gender Schema Theories

Social Learning Theory Emphasizes three mechanisms 1. Consequences for behaviors rewards, punishments, etc. 2. Imitation and observation observing others including adults, other children, the media, etc. 3. Direct verbal instructions Summary: socialization by others

Cognitive Approaches Emphasizes cognitive development and acquiring information about gender Called self socialization Child acquires information and then chooses to do gender role behavior Two theories Kohlberg’s Cognitive Developmental Theory Gender Schema Theory -- the developmental theory is Martin & Halverson

Kohlberg’s Cognitive Developmental Theory Cognitive development underlies gender role development Gender role development consists of three stages Gender Identity (by about age 2) Gender Stability (by age 4 or 5) Gender Constancy (by age 5 to 7)

Kohlberg continued Gender constancy believed to be the critical factor Because of a “tendency to value things like the self”, children will choose the things that are gender-related once they have gender constancy What’s the evidence? May play a role, but more is involved

Gender Schema Theories Martin & Ruble A gender schema is a set of ideas about gender (boys like cars, boys are loud, girls like dolls, etc.) How and when are these ideas learned, and how do they shape behavior? They are learned very early and very easily, and start to shape behavior at a young age

Gender Socialization Who (or what) socializes children’s gender roles? Parents Peers and siblings Other adults (e.g., teachers, coaches, grandparents) media (TV, books, movies, ads) What is most critical? Probably peers and media, but all are involved including the child him or herself

Parental Socialization Gender is not the critical factor for parents Temperament is more important Several reviews have concluded that, at least in western countries, boys and girls are treated quite similarly by parents However, there is some differential treatment Fathers do more of it than mothers

How do parents treat boys and girls differently? Direct Differential Treatment rewards, punishments, instruction, responding to certain behaviors Channeling or Shaping Choosing certain items or activities for boys or girls Observation and Modeling modeling certain behaviors for one or the other being imitated because of being male or female

Direct Differential Treatment Independence from toddler age on encouraged more in boys Girls more often treated as though they cannot do things on their own – not very competent Achievement encouraged more for boys Boys get more direct instruction Boys get more rough & tumble play Girls are talked to and with more Children are responded to more (esp. by fathers) when engaging in gender appropriate behavior

Channeling or Shaping This involves providing certain things to children of one gender or the other Clothing and hairstyles Room decorations and furnishings Activities (e.g., athletics, art, music, dancing) Toys One gender may have more pressure, especially to avoid the other gender’s characteristics Which one, and why?

Boys’ Toys More cognitively sophisticated more different kinds of toys develop spatial skills more likely to provide feedback imaginary play - exciting far away adventures - superheroes aggression, violence, warfare

Girls’ Toys The reverse (less cognitively sophisticated, etc.) Imagination more likely to focus on everyday life and may include relationships Nurturing Domestic Appearance-related

Toys conclusions Practicing skills What they tell you about yourself

Observation, Imitation, Modeling Do boys imitate their dads and girls imitate their moms? Too simple -- doesn’t have a lot of support Rather children imitate a variety of gender related models including many people outside the family eventually leads to conclusions about what males and females do

Peer Gender Role Socialization Peers respond to gender typical behavior Children’s peer experiences take place heavily in same gender peer groups The groups behave differently You could say that boys and girls grow up in different cultures Begins around age 2 with girls avoiding boys for two reasons Girls are wary of rough physical play styles of boys Girls have trouble influencing boys By school age it’s very well established