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