Cognitive explanations

• Gender Schema theory contradicts Kohlberg by stating that after a child achieves gender identity (2-3 years) they will start actively searching for gender-related information

  They will form in-group and out-group schemas, their in-group schemas will develop much more.
• Kohlberg's stages of gender development:

  • Gender Identity (2-3 years)
  • Label/identify their own gender
  • Can label others, based primarily on external appearance
  • Believe gender may change OVER TIME or SITUATIONS
  • Gender stability (4-6 years)
  • Gender is stable OVER TIME but struggle applying this to others
  • Still think it may change OVER SITUATIONS - understanding still reliant on stereotyped appearances
  • Gender constancy (7+ years)
  • Constant OVER TIME and SITUATIONS - due to greater awareness of anatomical differences between sexes. They realise these cannot change
• A gender schema is an organised package of knowledge about the characteristics and behaviours associated with either gender. Helps form sex-role stereotypes