AO3 - Kohlberg's Theory of Gender

• Support for Kohlberg’s theory of gender development comes from research by Slaby & Frey (1975) who interviewed 55 children aged 2-5 years to measure each of the stages. Questions included ‘Are you a boy or a girl?’ and ‘Could you be a girl or a boy if you wanted?’
• Slaby & Frey (1975) concluded that cognitive ability does influence gender related behaviour, this is in line with Kohlberg’s theory.
• Thompson (1975) supports Kohlberg’s claim that knowledge of gender is based on maturation. However, also found that children as young as 2 years old could categorise themselves as either male or female, suggesting an understanding of gender occurs long before the age of 7.
• Munroe et al (1984) studied the sequence of gender development across different cultures such as Kenya, Nepal, Belize and Samoa.
• Munroe et al (1984) found that children worldwide showed similar patterns of gender development as those suggested by Kohlberg, arguing it is a natural process linked to age and stage of development.
• Munroe et al (1984) concluded that gender development is universal which supports Kohlberg’s stage theory.
• Kohlberg’s theory of gender development argues that the child actively engages with their social world rather than passively observes it as suggested in the social learning theory (SLT).
• Martin & Halverson (1983) found that when preschool children were asked whether their gender would change if their clothing was less gender specific, almost all of them realised their gender would remain the same. This goes against Kohlberg’s theory.
• Kohlberg’s theory suggests that gender specific behaviour only appears after the child has developed gender constancy, however many children prefer gender stereotypical toys before the age of 7.
• Bussey & Bandura (1999) challenges the idea that an interest in gender appropriate behaviour only develops around age 6. They report children as young as four ‘feeling good’ about playing with gender appropriate toys and ‘bad’ about doing the opposite.
• Kohlberg’s theory is often criticised for describing the development of gender understanding rather than explaining how it influences gender specific behaviour.
• Serbin (2001) claims that Kohlberg may have underestimated the age at which children are aware of gender appropriate behaviour and it could be as early as 18 months.
• Kohlberg’s theory is a cognitive explanation for gender development and ignores the role of socialisation, including the impact of the environment and culture.
• Bem (1989) criticises the methodology used in many studies investigating gender and cognitive development. In her study Bem demonstrated 40% of children aged 3-5 years were able to demonstrate gender constancy when asked to make judgements based on physical differences rather than clothing of an individual.
• Bem (1989) argues that the typical way of testing gender constancy may misinterpret what younger children actually know.
• Martin et al (2002) suggest there may be different degrees of gender constancy, arguing that the acquisition of constancy may be a more gradual process and may begin earlier than Kohlberg thought.