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Discussion: Gender Development and Stereotyping

“During early childhood, patterns of behavior and preferences related to gender become important to children and apparent to adults” (Berger, 2016, p. 327).

Post your responses to the Discussion based on the course requirements.

Think about young children you know. Think about what they like to play, the activities they choose to participate in, or their favorite toys. Now, think about your own childhood. What were some of your favorite activities and toys? What messages did you receive—from your family, school, culture, and community—about being a boy or being a girl?

For this Discussion, review the section “Becoming Boys and Girls: Sex and Gender” in your course text (pp. 327 – 331). Think about gender stereotyping and the five theories—psychoanalytic, behaviorism, cognitive, sociocultural, and universal—that attempt to explain the phenomenon of gender identity. Consider how these theories in combination support our understanding and our ability to raise children who are “. . . happy to be themselves but not prejudiced against those of the other sex or against those who are gender non-conforming. . .”  (Berger, 2016, p.332).

With these thoughts in mind:

By Day 3

Post the following:

• A brief summary of the theory that interests you most. State whether you agree with the theory and explain your reasoning. Explain whether this theory helped to confirm or dispel any assumptions you had about gender identification and stereotyping.

 

• Your views on how gender stereotyping during early childhood might influence children’s future development. Include examples from your own early childhood experiences and the messages you received that fostered stereotypic views and expectations, or helped to dispel them.