A01

• Kohlberg's cognitive-developmental theory explains that gender understanding evolves with biological maturation rather than experience. Gender development unfolds across three stages:

  1. Gender identity emerges around age 2, as children recognize themselves and others as boys or girls, though often viewing gender as flexible.
  2. Gender stability, at approximately age 4, comes with the understanding that one's gender remains constant over time, yet struggles to apply this logic to others, often confused by external changes. For example, describing a man who has long hair as a woman.
• 3. Gender constancy, around age 6, marks the realisation that gender is consistent across time and situations, enabling children to differentiate gender regardless of appearances. This stage prompts the seeking of gender-appropriate role models and fosters gender stereotyping tendencies. Kohlberg emphasised that children actively seek evidence to confirm their gender concepts, paving the way for gender stereotyping behaviours. This can be through gender-appropriate role models whom children can identify with and imitate.