AO3 Gender schema

Question 1

strength research evidence

Answer 1

Key principles are supported by research evidence

• Martin and Halverson found children under the age of six years old are more likely to remember photographs of stereotypically gender appropriate behaviour rather than gender inappropriate behaviour
• children also tended to change the gender carrying out the gender inappropriate activity when asked to recall a week later
• strength as it’s provides support which predicts children can do this which contradicts Kohlberg’s theory

Question 2

strength accounts for cultural differences

Answer 2

Gender schema not only influence how people process information but what counts for culturally appropriate gender behaviour as children who are raise the traditional cultures will form a schema for this remains consistent

• in society where perceptions of gender have less rigid boundaries children are more likely to have a fluid schema
• strength as it’s based on what children pay attention to and remember which is seen throughout cultures

Question 3

Limitation conflicting evidence about gender identity

Answer 3

Martin and Halverson argue that children are able to label themselves as a girl or a boy at 2 to 3 years old however, research conducted show that children had labelled themselves as a girl or a boy at 19 months

• limitation as it underestimate a child’s ability to label themselves
• however it may be inappropriate to argue about specific ages as the gender schema theory suggests that the ages are more like averages rather than absolute, this is because children go to stages quicker or slower than others, therefore more research needs to be conducted