The Bio-social approach to Gender Development

Biosocial theory - argues that it is the interaction between social factors which leads to the development of the child's gender identiify and gendered behaviour.

Smith and Lloyd (1978) - Key study - "Baby X Baby Y" study

• dressed babies in unisex clothing and gave them boys and girls names
  
• Findings: They found that when the same baby was dressed and named as a boy then would be played with very differently to when dressed and named as a girl.

The constructed nature of gender

• Social constructionist theory - argues that concepts of gender are not natural but are "made" or constructed within a particular time and place through language.

Mac and…