Sex and Gender - Kohlberg's theory

Question 1

Cognitive explanations of gender

Answer 1

• based on the idea that a child’s understanding of gender becomes more sophisticated with age
• due to brain and thought maturation

Question 2

What are Kohlberg’s three stages?

Answer 2

• Gender identity
• gender stability
• gender constancy

Question 3

Gender identity

Answer 3

• Children begin to think about gender at approx. 2yo
• at 3, most children are able to identify others gender
• children believe that their sex can change
• they believe changing clothes changes a persons sex

Question 4

Gender stability

Answer 4

• at the age of 4, children begin to realise that their sex will not change over time
• they are egocentric, so they don’t understand this applies to others too
• see certain characteristics as male or female

Question 5

Gender constancy

Answer 5

• at 6 years old children understand that everyone’s gender is constant
• changes in outward appearance do not influence whether someone is male or female
• at this point children seek out role models to imitate to help them develop their sense of gender

Question 6

Social learning theory and stereotyping

Answer 6

• children seek out gender appropriate role models to identify with and imitate
• embark upon an active search for evidence that confirms their gender
• tendency towards gender stereotyping begins to emerge

Question 7

Strength - research support

Answer 7

P: research support
E: Damon - told children a story about a boy who liked to play with dolls
E: four year olds said it was ok, whereas six year old said he couldn’t
L: gender stages in real world situations

Question 8

Counter argument to research support

Answer 8

C: other research challenges the idea that gender stereotyping occurs at age 6. Children as young as 4 reported “feeling good” when playing with gender appropriate toys and “bad” when doing the opposite

Question 9

Limitation - methodological issues

Answer 9

P: relies on unsatisfactory methods
E: children understand gender through clothing because this is the culture they are brought up in
E: Bem - children were unable to demonstrate gender constancy when shown naked photos of children
L: the typical way of testing gender constancy may misrepresent what younger children actually know

Question 10

Nature v nurture

Answer 10

• nature approach can be supported by cross cultural studies which suggest that cognitive changes are universal, therefore biological
• fails to account for socialisation. Social processes of imitation and observation as well as role models play a much more influential role in gender development