Gender Flashcards
(14 cards)
How is sex determined?
Chromosomes and genes
Hormones to external reproductive structures and external genitalia
Sex assignment & sex rearing
Psychological & behavioural sex
What is the timeline of research in gender development?
Initial observer actions of gender typing in 5yrs lead to research on socialisation processes (Sears, 1957)
Cognitive developmental approach (Kohlberg) & social learning approach (Mischel) in 60s
Mid 70s - Maccoby & Jacklin broadened sex differences & gender typing & questioned socialisation process
80s - Huston more integrative comprehensive approach called for
99 - Bussey & Bandura - social cognitive theory
Give an overview of Kohlbergs cognitive developmental gender stage theory (1966)
Stresses role of cognitions (self-driven processes)
Children develop gender-related beliefs & behaviours as result of their own concepts about the world
Sex-role attitudes change with age
3 achievements - gender identity, stability & constancy
What is gender identity according to Kohlberg?
Childs ability to identify self as boy/ girl. Critical step accomplished at 2-3
Once recognised, they can seek to do same-sex things in turn finding them rewarding
Typed behaviours & attitudes emerge at this time
What is gender stability according to Kohlberg?
Understanding of lasting nature of gender, 4-5yrs
Before this show confusion about continuous nature of boy-man or girl-woman
Reflects child’s cognitive limitation
What is gender constancy according to Kohlberg?
Understanding gender is fixed & remains constant in face of various superficial changes in appearance
Evaluate this theory
Research support - older children label gender correctly more than younger, seen across cultures
Descriptive rather than explanatory
Focus on cognitive theory - doesn’t take into account social
Gender diversity unexplained
What is gender schema theory (Liben & Signorella, 1980)
Children’s basic understanding on gender & gender schema affect interactions with & processing of objects, people/ events
Affects child’s cognitive processes like perceiving, interpreting/ remembering gender related material & effects developmental outcomes
How do gender schemas occur?
Arise from individuals tendencies to categorise information combined with gender categories are physically salient & functionally used in surrounding environment
(Regulate info & make inferences)
What are the schema types in GST?
In/ out group schema - consist of children’s need to categorise objects, behaviours, traits & roles as female/ male - linked to culture
Own-sex schema - narrower, more specific version of in/out group schema consisting of info linked to object, traits & roles of their own sex - tied to gender of child
What is the dual pathway model of GST (Martin et al, 2002)?
Individual differences play larger role than earlier schema models
2 pathways - attitude & personal
What are the attitude & personal pathways?
Attitude - gender attitudes play major role in guiding child’s decision about engaging in behaviour
Personal - Childs engagement in activity will affect attitudes about the activity
Active in determining outcome of gender identity
What are cognitive foundations of GST?
Identify self as boy/ girl to motivate process of developing & enacting info about activities etc related to see
Identify others genders
Systematically link things like toys, activities etc to males/ females
