P2- Stages Of Gender Development

Question 1

What happens in the first stage at 2 and what happens at 3?

Answer 1

In the first stage, at around 2, children can correctly identify their gender identity. At 3, most can identify other as boys or girls but they may not understand gender as fixed and may talk about growing up to be the opposite gender. (When I grow I want to be a mummy)

Question 2

What do children at around age 4 acquire?

Answer 2

At around age 4 most children acquire gender stability; the realisation that they will stay the same gender. However, they cannot apply this logic to others and may be confused by external changes in appearances e.g describing a man with long hair as a woman.

Question 3

Finally, around age 6 what did Kohlberg suggest children develop? And will they begin to seek out?

Answer 3

Finally around age 6 Kohlberg suggested children develop gender constancy, recognising that gender remains constant across time and situations. They will begin to seek out gender-appropriate role models to identify with and imitate, and a tendency towards gender stereotyping also begins to emerge.