The role of gender constancy in early gender development.
Kohlberg's (1966) hypothesis that the attainment of gender constancy motivates children to attend to gender norms was reevaluated by examining these links in relation to age. Ninety-four 3- to 7-year-old children were interviewed to assess whether and how constancy mediates age-related changes in gender-related beliefs. As expected, results indicated a general pattern of an increase in stereotype knowledge, the importance and positive evaluation of one's own gender category, and rigidity of beliefs between the ages of 3 and 5. Moreover, the stability phase, rather than full constancy, mediated some of these relations. After age 5, rigidity generally decreased with age, with relations primarily mediated by consistency.
Ruble
Diane N
DN
Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA. diane.ruble@nyu.edu
Taylor
Lisa J
LJ
Cyphers
Lisa
L
Greulich
Faith K
FK
Lurye
Leah E
LE
Shrout
Patrick E
PE
D000367:Age Factors; D001288:Attention; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012925:Social Conformity; D012951:Socialization; D013240:Stereotyping