Cognitive explanations of gender

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  • Cognitive explanations of gender
    • Gender schema theory
      • Gender schema: an organised set of beliefs around gender which are derived from experiences. This guides an individuals perception and understanding of their own gender and also gender appropriate behaviour
      • Martin and Halverston’s cognitive-developmental theory
      • At age 2/3 child explores  the environment for information that matches their gender schema
        • Schema is formed around stereotypes of what boys and girls are like
          • E.g dolls for girls, cars for boys
          • Information which does not fit the gender schema is ignored
            • Better understanding of the schema which matches their own gender (“in group”)rather than the opposite sex (“outgroup”)
              • At age 8 a child develops a schema for birth in and out groups
    • Kohlberg’s gender constancy theory
      • Stages of development:gender development and understanding become more sophisticated with age
        • 1. Gender identity (age 2/3) - The child recognises their own gender. They cannot understand that sex is permanent
          • 2. Gender stability (age 4/5) - The child understands that their own gender does not change, but that of others may based on outward appearances.
            • 3. Gender constancy (age 6+) - Understand that gender is fixed in all individuals regardless of appearance.
    • Evaluation of  GST
      • Strengths
        • Reinforces Kohlberg’s theory
        • Helps to explain how children think about behaviour
        • Martin and Little; Martin and Halverston have research support
      • Weaknesses
        • Overemphasis on the role of the individual rather than biological and general environment
        • Limited support for some key assumptions of this theory

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