Gender Development and Constancy

What is gender consistency primarily concerned with?

At what age do children typically start showing a preference for the company of children of their own sex?

What observation was made regarding five-year-old boys and their attention to media?

Which concept suggests that children can categorize activities and objects by gender?

According to the content, how do children's beliefs about gender change as they grow older?

Gender Constancy

Gender constancy is the understanding that gender remains the same regardless of appearance or behaviour.
Kohlberg's theory proposing gender constancy as a crucial stage for understanding gender roles has limited empirical support.
Research findings often contradict Kohlberg's hypothesis.

Early Gender Preferences

Children exhibit gender-typed preferences from a young age (2.5 years old).
Children of the same sex prefer each other's company.
Girls are more likely to favour dolls, while boys are more drawn to cars, reflecting early gender preferences.

Gender Categorization

Children categorize activities and objects based on gender from a young age.
They acquire knowledge about typical male and female activities.
They also often display gender-appropriate behaviours before achieving gender constancy.

Development and Flexibility

Children develop more nuanced and complex gender beliefs as they age.
Children's views about gender roles often become more flexible as they grow older.

Gender Constancy and Media Exposure

Older children (five-year-old boys, nearing or at gender constancy) are more engrossed in gender-stereotypical media (e.g., male characters, sports programs).

Explore key concepts surrounding gender constancy, early gender preferences, and categorization in children. This quiz delves into Kohlberg's theory and the empirical findings related to children's understanding of gender roles. Test your knowledge on how children develop their views and preferences regarding gender.