gender identity - napa valley college pages development... · middle childhood 1 gender identity...
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Middle Childhood
1
Gender Identity
• Sense of being masculine or feminine
• Well established by preschool years
• By age 2 years:
– Consistently label themselves and others as boy or
girl
Theoretical Perspectives on Gender
Biological
• Inborn, genetic factors produce gender
differences
Social learning
• Gender related behavior learned
from observations of others’ behaviors
Cognitive
• Gender schemes form lens through
which world is viewed
Gender Identity
• Gender Identity
– Gender vs. Biological Sex
• Biological sex: Whether we are classified as male or
female at birth
• Gender: Inferences we make about the
qualities/characteristics of masculinity and femininity
Gender Identity
• Gender Identity
– Gender vs. Biological Sex
• Biological sex: Whether we are classified as boy or girl
at birth
• Gender: Inferences we make about the qualities of
males and females
– Gender-role Development
• The process through which children acquire the
characteristics and behaviors prescribed for males and
females in their cultures
Middle Childhood
2
Gender Identity
• Gender Identity
– Gender Stereotypes
Gender Identity
• Gender Identity
– Gender Stereotypes
• Instrumental
• Expressive
Gender Identity
• Gender Identity
– Gender Stereotypes
• Instrumental
• Expressive
– Children’s knowledge of gender stereotypes
• Girls play with girls, boys with boys
• Girls prefer girl toys, boys prefer boy toys
• Pretend play involves stereotyped roles
• Younger children are more rigid in their stereotypes
• VIDEO (Early Childhood Gender)
Gender Identity
• Gender Identity
– What sex difference actually exist?
• Physical Attributes
– Different chromosomes, reproductive systems & levels of hormones
– Females more mature at birth
– Males more likely to be miscarried, die in infancy & carry hereditary disease
– Females walk, talk & reach other motor milestones sooner
– Females reach puberty sooner
– Males reach greater height, weight & muscle mass
Middle Childhood
3
Gender and Play
• Differences noted in play of male and female
preschoolers
• Males:
• More rough and tumble play
• Same sex playmate preference around 3
• Females:
• Organized games and role playing
• Same sex playmate preference around 2
Social Learning Perspective on Gender
• Gender related behaviors and expectations
learned from observing others
• Books, media, television perpetuate gender
related behavior and expectations
Cognitive Perspective on Gender
• Gender schema or cognitive framework
organizes relevant gender information
• Preschoolers begin developing “rules” about
what is right and what is inappropriate for
males and females
Bem There, Done That
• Sandra Bem and androgynous children
– Encouraged to follow gender roles that
encompass characteristics thought typical of
both sexes
– Male-appropriate and female-appropriate traits
Middle Childhood
4
Gender Identity
• Gender Identity
– What sex difference actually exist?
• Physical Attributes
• Cognition & Mental Abilities
– Language abilities
– Spatial abilities
Test of Spatial Skills
Gender Identity
• Gender Identity
– What sex difference actually exist?
• Physical Attributes
• Cognition & Mental Abilities
– Language abilities
– Spatial abilities
– Math abilities
Sex Differences
Middle Childhood
5
Sex Differences in Mental Abilities
Skill PerformanceBiological
Influences
Environmental
Influences
Verbal
Girls do better from
early ages, throughout
school
Girls: advantage in
left hemisphere of
brain
�Parents talk more
to girls
�Language arts
considered
“feminine.”
Math
� Boys better at
abstract reasoning,
mathematical problem
solving
� Gap larger at higher
levels, although
shrinking
Boys: better
numerical memory,
spatial reasoning
Right hemisphere
might be more
active
�Mathematics
considered
“masculine.”
� Parents view boys
as better at math
Gender Identity
• Gender Identity
– What sex difference actually exist?
• Physical Attributes
• Cognition
• Social Behaviors & Personality Differences
Social Behaviors & Personality Differences
Boys are more– Physically aggressive
• Biological influences?
– Androgen hormones
• Environmental influences?
– Family
– Consequences
of aggression
– Peers
Middle Childhood
6
Social Behaviors & Personality Differences
• Compliant (social influence)
• Dependent
• Likely to Suffer Depression
Girls are more
� Relationally aggressive
� Emotionally sensitive
� But behavior differences small
Gender Identity
• Gender Identity
– What sex difference actually exist?
• Physical Attributes
• Cognition
• Social Behaviors
– So, why do stereotypical beliefs still exist?
• Socialization of stereotypes
– Parents
– Peers
– Schools and Teachers
– The media (EXAMPLE)
Gender Identity
• Gender Identity
– What sex difference actually exist?
• Physical Attributes
• Cognition
• Social Behaviors
– So, why do stereotypical beliefs still exist?
• Socialization of stereotypes
• Biology
– Evolutionary adaptiveness
– Cross-cultural similarities (but note differences!)
– Hormones