1. Social contexts of gender role
Social influences on gender

2. Learning objectives
Understand how reinforcement from parents and peers may influence gendered behaviours.
Explain how observational learning from role models is important in development of gender.
Be able to describe how experiences at school might reinforce gendered behaviours.

3. The behavioural approach
Gender behaviour is learned
Operant conditioning and social learning
The approach assumes no direct relationship between biological sex and gender.
Cultural differences are explained by this approach.

4. Parents and peers
Parents and peers may reinforce gender-related behaviour.
Positive consequences and compliments lead to repetition of the behaviour.

6. Both peers and parents reinforce gender role e. g
Both peers and parents reinforce gender role e.g. toys children play with.
Harris and Durkin (1995) argue that peers are more important than parents

7. The role of observational learning
Role models may be
Parents
Older siblings
Friends
TV characters
Sporting personalities
Celebrities

8. SOCIAL COGNITIVE LEARNING THEORY
Observation
Attention to role model (highly selective)
Stored mental representation
Self-efficacy
Motivation
Future expectations
Vicarious reinforcement

9. Parents as models Fagot et al. (1992)
Compared egalitarian and traditional families
Children from traditional families used gender labels earlier and
Used stereotypes for gender roles.

10. TV AND MAGAZINES
Content analysis shows that females are portrayed differently from males.

11. THE IMPACT OF SCHOOLS Schools enforce typical gender roles.
Teachers of certain subjects tend to be of a particular gender, e.g. science – males, humanities – females.
Boys are praised differently for their work.