Gender Schema theory

Question 1

strength of gender schema theory

Answer 1

1. research support
   - Martin and Halverson’s (1983) study found that children under 6 were more likely to remember photograph of stereotypical gender appropriate behavoiur than photographs of gender inappropriate behavior when testes a week later
   - children tended to change toe gender of the person carrying out the gender appropriate activity when asked to recall them so that gender behaviour was now appropriate
2. cultural differences
   - Cherry (2019) argues that the gender schema influences what counts as culturally appropriate gender behavoiur
   - traditional cultures who believe that women should take a nurturing role and that men should pursue a career will raise children who form schemas that are consistent with this view
   - theory can explain how gender schemas are transmitted between member of a society and how cultural differences in gender stereotypes come about

Question 2

limitation if gender schema theory

Answer 2

1. earlier gender identity
   - a longitudinal study of 82 children (Zosuls et al 2009) looked at the onset of gender identity
   - data was obtained from twice weekly reports from mothers on their children’s language from 9 - 21 months
   - key measure of gender identity was taken to be when children labeled themselves as boy or girl
   - this occurred at 19 months as soon as the child was able to communicate suggesting that they actually have gender identity before but could not communicate it

Question 3

gender schema after gender identity

Answer 3

• according to Martin and Halverson once a child had established gender identity (2-3 years) they will begin to search the environment for information that encourages development of gender schema
• contrast kohlberg’s theory that this happens after gender constancy (age 7)

Question 4

gender schema determines behavoiur

Answer 4

• schemas formed around stereotypes
• boys play with trucks girls play with dolls
• these provide a framework that directs experiences as well as a child to understand if itself
• by 6 a child has a fixed idea about what is appropriate for their gender

Question 5

ingroup information better remembered

Answer 5

• has a better understanding of the schema that are appropriate to their own gender
• consistent with the idea that children pay more attention to information to their own gender identity
• at 8 children develop schemas for both genders
• ingroup identity bolsters a child levels of self esteem