Kohlbergs theory

• what is kohlbergs theory?

  the idea that the way we think changes as we age because of physical changes in the brain, so a childs concept of gender is the outcome of age-related changes in a childs cognitive capabilities

  • this theory suggests development occurs in stages
• what are the stages in Kohlbergs theory?

  gender labelling

  gender stability

  gender constancy
• what is gender labelling?

  the first stage

  • age of 2-3
  • children can label themselves and others as boy/girl
  • this is based on outward appearance only
  • gender labels can change if appearance changes
• what is gender stability?

  children recognize that boys become men and girls become women

  • they know that they will become a woman if they are a girl but others gender can change
  • age of 4
  • they don't realise others gender is consistant across situations
• what is gender constancy?

  final stage of gender development

  • age of 6
  • children realise gender is consistant through all situations
  • only at this point do children learn about gender-appropriate behaviour, this info isn't really relevant until now because the child believes their gender may change
• evidence for Kohlbergs stages overall

  Thompson

  • found 2 year olds were 76% correct in identifying their sex whereas 3 year olds were 90% correct. Showing an increase in ability along with development like Kohlberg suggested
• evidence for gender stability

  Slaby and Frey

  • asked young children if they would be a mum or a dad when they grew up
  • answers given by children showed that they didn't recognise these traits were stable over time until they were 3-4 like Kohlberg suggested
• evidence for gender constancy

  Slaby and Frey

  • asked questions like 'could you be a boy/girl if you wanted to be?'
  • they found that children who scored high on both stability and constancy showed greatest interest in same-sex models, showing that increasing constancy leads children to pay more attention to gender-appropriate models which furthers gender development
• methodological problems with kohlbergs theory

  Bem criticised how gender constancy is measured, bem suggested that asking children to resolve a contradiction between genitals and clothing only shows that the children have learnt about societal values because clothing is the most relevant cue in our society
• gender constancy may not be the root of gender development

  Bem argued that it is genital knowledge instead

  • showed children a picture of a naked toddler then asked them to identify the toddlers sex when dressed both appropriately + inappropriately
  • found that 40% of 3-5 year olds could conserve gender
  • importantly, she found that most of the children that couldn't conserve didn't know what opposite genitals looked like
  • so they didn't know that the genitals would have to be different to change gender + this is why they based their knowledge of gender on outward appearance
• age differences in kohlbergs theory + temporal validity

  slaby and frey

  • found gender constancy occurring younger than K suggested, at 5
  • not a direct challenge because it still suggests thinking changes over time
  • but adjustments are needed to the theory because of temoral change; children are exposed to gender info through new ways of media at younger ages
• gender constancy may not be required

  Martin and little

  • found children under the age of 4 showed no signs of stability or constancy but displayed strong gender stereotypes about what boys and girls are allowed to do
  • therefore, gender constancy may not be needed to start developing gender-appropriate behavior