Gender schema theory

• A gender schema is a mental representation regarding everything we know about gender appropriate/inappropriate behaviour which is based on prior experience.
• In-groups) People a child relates to (generally of the same sex)

  ->Children actively seek out information about how members of their group behave.

  Out-groups) People of the opposite sex.

  ->Dismiss and ignore anything done by out-groups.
• The theory is described as 'cognitively developmental' meaning that it holds the idea that as children grow older, their brains mature and their ideas about gender grow more sophisticated.
• A03

  Strength) Research support from Martin Harv

  He found that children under the age of six are more likely to remember photographs of stereotypically gender-appropriate behaviours in comparison to photos of gender-inappropriate behaviours.

  ->This supports the idea that children disregard any gender inappropriate behaviours.
• A03


  Limitation) Gender identity occurs earlier than states.

  A longitudinal study of 82 children researched the onset of gender identity. They did this by measuring exactly how and when they labelled themselves as "boy" or "girl" which was as early as 19 months.

  ->This shows that children have gender identity before 3 years of age but simply lack the proper way to articulate it.
• A03


  Strength) Gender Schema Theory accounts for cultural differences.

  Cherry states the Gender Schema also determines what counts as culturally-appropriate gender behaviour. Some cultures believe women take a nurturing role while men go to work and as a result of this children adopt these culturally-gender-appropriate views.

  ->This is important because it explains how gender schemas are shared between members of a society and how cultural differences in gender stereotypes come about.