Gender Schema Theory

• Who believes that children learn gender by structuring their own learning?

  Martin and Halverson
• How do Martin and Halverson's views on gender learning differ from Kohlberg's?

  They believe it occurs before gender constancy
• What is the gender identity stage according to Martin and Halverson?

  When children can label their gender
• What is a schema?

  A cognitive framework for processing information
• How do schemas contribute to stereotypes?

  They focus on confirming pre-existing beliefs
• What is a gender schema?

  • Associations with gender roles
  • Attitudes and behaviors linked to gender
  • Develops after gender identity
• When do children begin to search for confirming behaviors for their gender schema?

  After reaching gender identity at ages 2-3
• How do children evaluate their ingroup versus outgroup schemas?

  They understand ingroup schemas better
• What happens to children's beliefs about gender schemas as they grow older?

  They start to pay attention to both genders
• What is the effect of gendered beliefs on children's attitudes?

  They lead to fixed gender attitudes
• How do children respond to disconfirming information about their gender schema?

  They ignore and forget it
• What did Martin and Halverson find about children's memory of gender consistent behavior?

  They remembered it better than inconsistent behavior
• What are the implications of gender schema theory?

  • Explains inflexible gender attitudes
  • Suggests counter stereotypes may not be effective
  • Highlights the role of personal experience in learning
• What criticism is made against gender schema theory regarding social influences?

  It overemphasizes individual roles over social factors
• What did Fagot find about two-year-olds who can label genders?

  They spent 80% of time in same-gender groups
• What happens when children view cross-gender activities according to Martin and Halverson?

  They distort or forget the information
• What did Martin and Little find regarding gender identity and preferences?

  Only gender identity is needed for preferences
• What did Bradbard et al find about children's interest in ingroup labelled toys?

  They showed greater interest in ingroup toys
• What does Bradbard et al's study support about gender schema theory?

  It shows schemas lead to changes in memory