development of gender roles
DESCRIPTION
Gender development and awareness through early childhood to adolescence.TRANSCRIPT
Development of Gender Roles
By Janeen Jackson
MTE/506
Instructor: Paula Rogers
How are gender roles developed?
Several theories have explained the development of children's gender identity:
Psychoanalytic Theory
Behavioral Theory
Social Learning Theory
Cognitive Learning Theory
Psychoanalytical TheoryOedipus and Electra complex
Behavior and Social Theory
Boys and girls receive positive reinforcements for gender appropriate behaviors. Children displaying opposite behavior dress or play will be corrected.
Social Learning Theory
Social Learning Theory is the role of imitation. (Levine & Munsch, 2013, "Chapter 11: Identity The Self, Gender, and Moral Development").
Media and the world around them will dictate what is appropriate and acceptable gender behavior.
Cognitive Development Theory
Gender Identity- (age 2) A child will
correctly identify their sex.
Gender Stability- (age 3) Children at this
are aware that gender is stable over time.
Gender Constancy-(age 5+) Children know that gender does not change regardless of outward appearance or gender role activity
Theorist Lawrence Kohlberg wasthe first theorist to break down genderidentity by cognitive theory.
When are gender roles adopted?
Children usually adopt pattern of behavior and preferences around 15 to 36 months.
According to "Child Psychology: A Contemporary Viewpoint “ (2003) “Girls tend to conform less strictly to gender-role stereotypes than do boys, possibly because there is greater pressure from parents and teachers for boys to adhere to the masculine role. Girls may also imitate the male role because it has greater status and privilege in our culture. Although some boys and girls receive support for cross-gender behavior, most are encouraged to behave according to traditional stereotypes.” (Developmental Patterns of Gender Typing).
What influences shape perceptions of gender roles ?
Biological anatomy
Social attributes
How an individual subscribes to biological, individuality, physical traits, appearance, personality, life experiences, career and education.
History of sexual and romantic interaction.
Societal pressure
How might gender identify change from early childhood through adolescence
Children will start gender labeling (ages 3-4)
Preschool children know that nothing will change their biological sex and will stay that for life.
Adolescence will experience gender intensity. This is also a time when they question their gender roles or prescribe to transgender roles.
What observable behaviors might indicate changes in gender identity?
BOYS
States I want he wants to be girl
Has a marked interests in female activities, including playing with dolls or pretending roles as a female.
Boy will cross dress or wear cosmetics.
GIRLS
States that she wishes she was a boy
Preferred peer groups is male
Will choose male roles in playing instead of females (
Video of observable behavior of boy who wants to identify as a girl.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/Pages/Gender-Identity-and-Gender-Confusion-In-Children.aspx
Cherry, K. (2014). About.com Psychology. Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/gindex/g/def_genderschem.htm
Child Psychology: A Contemporary Viewpoint . (2003). Retrieved from http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072820144/student_view0/chapter15/index.html
Dixon, E. (2012). Surviving Psychology. Retrieved from http://survivingpsychology.blogspot.com/2012/09/psya3-kohlbergs-gender-theory-info-sheet.html
Encyclopedia of Applied Developmental Science. (2013). Sage Knowledge. Retrieved from http://knowledge.sagepub.com/view/applieddevscience/n197.xml
Galambos, N. (2005). Gender intensification. In C. Fisher, & R. Lerner (Eds.), Encyclopedia of applied developmental science. (pp. 506-508). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412950565.n197
Lee, J., & Ashcraft, A. (2005). Gender Roles . Hauppauge, NY: Nova Publishing.
Levine, L., & Munsch, J. (2013). Child Development. An Active Learning Approach (2nd ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.
Oswalt, A. (2014). Betty Hardwick Center. Retrieved from http://www.bhcmhmr.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=12771&cn=462