Question

Choose two of the popular gender-role development theories (Biosocial, Social Learning, Kolberg's Cognitive Development Theory, and Gender-Schema theory) and describe how each explains gender-role development. Provide an example of how a child learns gender roles for each theory.

Answer 1

Social learning theory

According to this theory, child recognize gender based on outward motivational factors. If a child gets reinforcement, then he or she will continue the same behavior whereas, if the child gets punishment, then the child will reduce the particular behavior. For instance, if a boy child shows aggression, most of the time it is accepted but, girls aggressiveness earns little attention. Therefore, boys may continue to show the aggressive behavior instead of crying whereas girls do the opposite one. So child learns through outward motivational factors.

Cognitive learning

This model is formulated by Kohlberg, he states that the children develop gender at their own levels. There are 3 stages:

• Gender identity; Children develop gender identity by the age of 2.
• Gender stability; Gender stability develops around the age of 4.Child understands their gender is fixed.
• Gender constancy; happens between the age of 5 and 7.Child understands that the dressing style change will not alter their sex.

Children used to observe the Schema; A set of spoken rules for social and cultural interaction. According to this theory, children can learn gender roles by looking role models. It helps the child to emulate maleness or femaleness. For example, young boys used to fix their father as a role model and tends to imitate his dressing styles, postures etc.