1. Gender Consistency Theory - IDA
This theory links to the nature nurture debate.
Which part of the theory is nature?
Which part of the theory is nurture?
Nature - all children will go through the three stages in order at the set ages
Nurture – the information that the children will collect about gender through self socialisation will vary according to their culture, so the theory allows for a very different understanding of gender to exist in different cultures.

2. So what?? Positive - interaction between nature and nurture
more holistic explanation of gender development than other approaches e.g. biological
– takes into consideration the complexity of gender development – however this also makes it very difficult to study scientifically

3. Negative – role of nature is questionable
– evidence suggests ages stated in the theory may not be accurate and it is also possible that children do not pass through the stages in the order stated
– it may be that nurture plays a more important role than this theory suggests