Summary #7 kim or kanye?
Gender
= cognitive/social difference between males and females
Sex
= biological/psychological differences between males and females
Gender-typing
= process by which kids acquire the values, motives, behaviors considered appropriate for
their gender in their culture.
12 months: gender-based preference for a doll/car (strongest at 18-23 months)
Gender stereotypes
= beliefs that members of a culture hold about how males and females should behavior
= what behaviors are acceptable/appropriate for each sex (rigid at age 3-7)
o Less prominent in kids raised in non-traditional families (working mom, stay at home
dad)
o Less prominent in African American families; more egalitarian in gender roles.
Boys experience greater social risk after transgressing into gender inappropriate
behavior boys consistently show less cross-sexual exploration (rigidly prefer boy
toys)
18-24 months: stronger preference for gender-typed toy
3-5 years: prefer masculine girl over feminine boy
4-10 years: aware/conform to cultural prescription (more leeway for girls to be ‘tomboys’)
Girls actually show much masculine behavior
o Know that masculine behavior is valued
o Have more social freedom to explore
o Masculine play is more exciting
Middle childhood (age 8/9) growing flexibility in gender stereotypes
Adolescence (±12 years) = more acting according to gender stereotypes due to: peer
pressure, parental pressure, interest in romance.
Gender roles
= the reflection of a gender stereotype is everyday life
= behavior that is exhibited by typical males & females in a given culture
Gender identity
= the perception of oneself as either masculine or feminine (preference for specific gender
typed characteristics)
5-7years: understand that gender is unchangeable, but that one can explore cross-sexual
and might not be content/comfortable with gender
Sexual orientation
= preference of same or opposite sex partner
Gender appropriate
= thinking that specific behaviors/actions are appropriate, typical, socially normative
Female emotionally supporting/loving/sensitive/values & support family/social relations
o Expressive role: nurturant & concern with feelings
Male controlling, independent, assertive, dominant, competitive in social/sexual relations
o Instrumental role: task & occupation orientated
, Social influences on gender typing
Parents
Directly: instruct specific gender-typed behaviors
Indirectly: model and reinforce gender-typed behavior
o Decorate boys vs. girls’ room
o Verbal communication boys vs. girls
o Boys vs. girls’ physical contact
o Clothes; boys vs. girls
o Encourage gender appropriate activities/academic/career paths
Fathers make more gender discriminations in children’s description, play-time, verbal
interaction, gifting toys, academic paths
(e.g.; tough description, rough-and-tumble play, macho language, academic science VS. cute
description, gently cuddling, interpersonal interactions)
o Pressure children to play with gender-typed toys & if playing with appropriate toy
leads to consistent reward
father is the principle agent of gender role socialization
Mothers differentiate less based on gender, but both are more verbally responsive to girls in
supportive and directive ways. Mothers also do more labelling when reading to boys, in
contrast they stress feelings and emotions more in girls.
Both mom and dad are more protective of girls, whereas in boy’s exploration independence,
achievement is stressed (mainly by father)
o Eventually parent’s stereotyped expectations are internalized and are expressed in
the child’s own perception of competence.
o Self-fulfilling prophecy: prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become
true
Gender-egalitarian parents = - stereotyped beliefs + performance of girls
Absence of father: boys have difficulty with gender identity
girls have difficulty identifying with boys/men in adolescence
Siblings & peers
Older sibling influences gender-typing in the younger sibling
Female older sibling younger child will have more feminine characteristics
Male older sibling younger child will have more male characteristics
Thus, siblings of different sexes less stereotypical gender-role concept
Preschool years + importance peers
o Help kids define own gender
o Reward gender-appropriate behavior & criticism when violated
o Enforces gender-role standards
o Intensification of gender segregation (cross-cultural)
2 years = girls already prefer to play with girls
4,5 years = spend 3x as much time with same-sex peers
6,5 years = spend 11x as much time with same-sex peers
Gender
= cognitive/social difference between males and females
Sex
= biological/psychological differences between males and females
Gender-typing
= process by which kids acquire the values, motives, behaviors considered appropriate for
their gender in their culture.
12 months: gender-based preference for a doll/car (strongest at 18-23 months)
Gender stereotypes
= beliefs that members of a culture hold about how males and females should behavior
= what behaviors are acceptable/appropriate for each sex (rigid at age 3-7)
o Less prominent in kids raised in non-traditional families (working mom, stay at home
dad)
o Less prominent in African American families; more egalitarian in gender roles.
Boys experience greater social risk after transgressing into gender inappropriate
behavior boys consistently show less cross-sexual exploration (rigidly prefer boy
toys)
18-24 months: stronger preference for gender-typed toy
3-5 years: prefer masculine girl over feminine boy
4-10 years: aware/conform to cultural prescription (more leeway for girls to be ‘tomboys’)
Girls actually show much masculine behavior
o Know that masculine behavior is valued
o Have more social freedom to explore
o Masculine play is more exciting
Middle childhood (age 8/9) growing flexibility in gender stereotypes
Adolescence (±12 years) = more acting according to gender stereotypes due to: peer
pressure, parental pressure, interest in romance.
Gender roles
= the reflection of a gender stereotype is everyday life
= behavior that is exhibited by typical males & females in a given culture
Gender identity
= the perception of oneself as either masculine or feminine (preference for specific gender
typed characteristics)
5-7years: understand that gender is unchangeable, but that one can explore cross-sexual
and might not be content/comfortable with gender
Sexual orientation
= preference of same or opposite sex partner
Gender appropriate
= thinking that specific behaviors/actions are appropriate, typical, socially normative
Female emotionally supporting/loving/sensitive/values & support family/social relations
o Expressive role: nurturant & concern with feelings
Male controlling, independent, assertive, dominant, competitive in social/sexual relations
o Instrumental role: task & occupation orientated
, Social influences on gender typing
Parents
Directly: instruct specific gender-typed behaviors
Indirectly: model and reinforce gender-typed behavior
o Decorate boys vs. girls’ room
o Verbal communication boys vs. girls
o Boys vs. girls’ physical contact
o Clothes; boys vs. girls
o Encourage gender appropriate activities/academic/career paths
Fathers make more gender discriminations in children’s description, play-time, verbal
interaction, gifting toys, academic paths
(e.g.; tough description, rough-and-tumble play, macho language, academic science VS. cute
description, gently cuddling, interpersonal interactions)
o Pressure children to play with gender-typed toys & if playing with appropriate toy
leads to consistent reward
father is the principle agent of gender role socialization
Mothers differentiate less based on gender, but both are more verbally responsive to girls in
supportive and directive ways. Mothers also do more labelling when reading to boys, in
contrast they stress feelings and emotions more in girls.
Both mom and dad are more protective of girls, whereas in boy’s exploration independence,
achievement is stressed (mainly by father)
o Eventually parent’s stereotyped expectations are internalized and are expressed in
the child’s own perception of competence.
o Self-fulfilling prophecy: prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become
true
Gender-egalitarian parents = - stereotyped beliefs + performance of girls
Absence of father: boys have difficulty with gender identity
girls have difficulty identifying with boys/men in adolescence
Siblings & peers
Older sibling influences gender-typing in the younger sibling
Female older sibling younger child will have more feminine characteristics
Male older sibling younger child will have more male characteristics
Thus, siblings of different sexes less stereotypical gender-role concept
Preschool years + importance peers
o Help kids define own gender
o Reward gender-appropriate behavior & criticism when violated
o Enforces gender-role standards
o Intensification of gender segregation (cross-cultural)
2 years = girls already prefer to play with girls
4,5 years = spend 3x as much time with same-sex peers
6,5 years = spend 11x as much time with same-sex peers
