Pres 3

1. Sequential understanding of gender (Kohlberg,
1966, 1969)
Step Age of
Appearance
(years)
Sample
questions asked
Characteristics
1 Identity 1½-2 “Are you a boy or a
girl?”
Correctly labels
self and others as
male or female
2 Stability 3-4 “Will you be a
mummy or a daddy
when you grow up?”
Understands
people retain the
same gender
throughout life
3 Constancy 6-7 “If a boy puts on a
dress, will he be a
girl?”
Aware gender not
dependent on
changes in
appearance (e.g.
hair, clothes)

2. Kohlberg (1966, 1969)
 Gender identity (1.5 - 2.5 years)
 become aware that there are boys and girls
 by age 2 can identify their own sex and identify others sex based
on obvious characteristics
 “Could you be a boy if you wanted to?”
 Sen & Bauer (2000)
 Choose a picture of boy or girl from pile. 24-30 month old children able
to pick their own gender out of pictures and put in appropriate category

3. Kohlberg (1966, 1969)
 Gender stability (about 3-4 years)
 Realise sex remains constant through life, boys will become men
etc.
 Sex still defined by superficial characteristics – cross gender
stereotyped behaviour more tolerated in girls than boys e.g.
dressing up
 Damon (1977) – 4 year old (egocentric)
 Is it OK for boys to play with dolls?
 Yes if they wanted to
 So what should George do?
 Play with dolls because it’s up to him

4. Kohlberg (1966, 1969)
 Gender consistency (about 5-6 years) – children
motivated to make their behaviour consistent with self
concept of their own gender
 Realise that gender remains constant over context as
well as time
 Gender not defined by individuals actions – e.g.
clothes, hairstyles
 Damon (1977) – 6 year old – intolerant of others who
violate traditional standards of gender
 Why do you think people tell George not to play with dolls?
 He should only play with things that boys play with – He should
stop playing with girls’ dolls and start playing with G.I. Joe
9 year old – more flexible view – sex roles as social rather than
moral absolutes
 What if he still kept on playing with dolls? Do you think his
parents should punish him?
 No, it’s not really doing anything bad