4.8 • +11k Ratings
Save
Print
Edit
Martin and Halverson proposed the gender schema theory in 1981. This gender theory suggests a child’s perception and development of gender identity stems from a particular thought pattern called a schema. It combines cognitive theory and social learning theory. It focuses on thought processes and how they can explain certain psychological phenomena.
Gender symbols, Flaticon
A schema is our mental representation of a particular concept, an information package. Schemas are abstract cognitive structures, like a mental toolbox containing information about various things.
A child may develop a schema about dogs that contains the knowledge that dogs are furry creatures with four legs.
Martin and Halverson suggest that children begin to develop a schema regarding their gender around age 3, which is a basic gender identity. According to Kohlberg’s theory of gender development, children at this age develop the ability to name their gender and the gender of others. These designations enable children to form in-groups and out-groups, in this case boys and girls.
As children grow older, they expand their gender schemas (through observation).
Because most children desire to belong, they begin to identify with their gendered group, view it positively, and seek information about behaving more like members of their group. This helps the child develop a gender identity – learning from others in their group about the norms of their gender and how to behave accordingly. This construction of in-group and out-group also leads children to view the out-group as negative and avoid behaviours associated with that group.
Martin and Halverson note that this desire to connect with one’s in-group and learn from others within that group is why young children begin to develop their gender identity and gender expression.
Family raising a child, Flaticon
A child’s desire to fit into their in-group may be an evolutionary trait. This could be because staying with like-minded people, such as members of your gender, was much safer than spending time with people very dissimilar to you (e.g., an unfamiliar group) because they would not have much incentive to raise you and help you survive.
If either gender adopts the right behaviours of their in-group, the in-group may allow them to join and behave with them.
As a result, a female will act like a girl to blend in with the other girls by adopting mannerisms typically associated with girls.
Let us look at the studies that have examined this theory.
In this study, Liben & Signorella showed 106 primary school children photographs of adults engaged in either stereotypical (e.g., a female nurse) or unconventional (e.g., a male hairdresser) gendered activities.The researchers asked the children to look at the photos and then recall them. They found that most children remembered the photos showing stereotypical gendered behaviours better than the photos showing unconventional behaviours.This finding suggests children have certain assumptions about a person’s gender from a young age.
Gender identity schemas, Flaticon
Gender schema theory helps fill in the gaps Kohlberg’s theory of gender development left behind, with which it largely agrees. One of the main problems frequently cited in Kohlberg’s theory is the lack of explanation for why the developmental stages of gender occur. Martin and Halverson’s theory helps explain why the gender labelling stage occurs and how the child develops gender identity, rather than just describing what that development looks like.
Many studies supporting this theory interviewed their participants. One limitation of this theory is many methodological problems with interviewing young children. One of these is that they are more likely to exhibit demand characteristics than adults.
Demand characteristics refer to when a participant behaves the way they think the researcher expects them to behave, rather than to behave naturally.
The problem with demand characteristics is that they make the results less faithful to reality, unreliable, and somewhat invalid.
In a later study, Martin and Halverson (1983) found that children absorb and retain more information when it fits their gender schema.They showed children pictures of males and females performing stereotypical or nonstereotypical actions of their respective genders. One week later, they had to recall the activities and the sex of the person in the pictures.Children were more likely to correctly identify the gender and activity of the person in the picture if that person performed the stereotype-matching action. This finding suggests an internal schema for appropriate gendered behaviour.
This study found that although children had an idea of their gender and the stereotypical behaviours associated with it, this did not prevent them from engaging in nonstereotypical behaviours.Gender schemas may be present, but they are not the main factor in overall gender development.
This theory reinforces and, in some ways, promotes the idea of gender roles. It may discourage children from exploring activities outside of their gender.
Gender schema theory, discovered by Martin and Halverson in 1981, states that a child’s perception and development of gender identity relies on a specific type of thought pattern called a schema.
A schema is our mental representation of a particular concept.
An example of a schema might be that a child thinks animals with four legs and fur are dogs.
Martin and Halverson suggest that children begin to develop a schema regarding their gender that is very basic (basic gender identity) around age three. These labels allow children to form in-groups and out-groups, in this case, boys and girls.
Because most children desire to belong, they begin to identify with their gendered group, view them favourably, and seek information on behaving more like members of their group.
Many studies supporting this theory involve interviewing their participants. One limitation of this theory is many methodological problems with interviewing young children.
However, studies have shown that children remember gender-stereotypical behaviours better when that gender performs it.
Martin and Halverson proposed the gender schema theory in 1981. This gender theory suggests a child’s perception and development of gender identity stems from a particular thought pattern called a schema. It combines cognitive theory and social learning theory. Because most children desire to belong, they begin to identify with their gendered group, view it positively, and seek information about behaving more like members of their group.
Martin and Halverson (1981).
Role schema, object schema, self schema, and event schema.
Gender schema theory has been influenced by the work of Jean Piaget, in which he described schemas for the first time as small ‘pockets’ of information that we have regarding certain subjects.
A good example of gender schema theory is when children develop the ability to label their gender and the gender of others. These labels allow children to form in-groups and out-groups, in this case, boys and girls.
Because most children desire to belong, they begin to identify with their gendered group, view it positively, and seek information about behaving more like members of their group. This helps the child develop a gender identity – learning from others in their group about the norms of their gender and how to behave accordingly. This construction of in-group and out-group also leads children to view the out-group as negative and avoid behaviours associated with that group.
Be perfectly prepared on time with an individual plan.
Test your knowledge with gamified quizzes.
Create and find flashcards in record time.
Create beautiful notes faster than ever before.
Have all your study materials in one place.
Upload unlimited documents and save them online.
Identify your study strength and weaknesses.
Set individual study goals and earn points reaching them.
Stop procrastinating with our study reminders.
Earn points, unlock badges and level up while studying.
Create flashcards in notes completely automatically.
Create the most beautiful study materials using our templates.
Sign up to highlight and take notes. It’s 100% free.
