PSYC 2076 Chapter : Child Development Chapter 12
Document Summary
Gender: sense of being male or female, perceptions of maleness and femaleness. Not the same as sex. gender is a social construct. Gender differences: disagreement about the extent and causes of difference, some are clear from birth. Male infants are more active, fussy, sleep disturbed, and irritable than girls. All cultures have gender roles; with considerable variation. Differences more clear as children age, become increasingly influenced by the gender roles that society sets. Boys and girls prefer different toys, often reinforced by parents. By 2, boys behave more independently (probably due to parental behavior). Differences in behaviors may also be due to prenatal effects of hormones. Differences emerge early in preschool years as they form expectations (conform to stereotypes) about what is appropriate for each sex. Girls more interested in organized games and role playing. Kids" ideas about gender tend to be fairly conservative. Biological perspectives: physical characteristics, hormone differences, brain structure differences may lead to gender differences.
