Gender can influence development in a variety of ways. For example, boys tend to develop and learn differently than girls and have lower levels of school readiness. A child’s physical body has distinctive reproductive organs and becomes further differentiated as special sex hormones are produced that play a role in gender differences.
When do children develop gender identity?
Most children typically develop the ability to recognize and label stereotypical gender groups, such as girl, woman and feminine, and boy, man and masculine, between ages 18 and 24 months. Most also categorize their own gender by age 3 years.
Does gender affect child development?
When young girls and boys are denied access to the opportunities, care and services they need to thrive and develop to their full potential, this affects the rest of their lives. In many communities, gender inequality is one important root cause of children’s poor development in the early years.
How do children learn gender roles?
What creates gender roles?
- Give them games, media, books and puzzles that are gender-neutral or show men and women in non-stereotypical roles, e.g. ...
- Give both girls and boys a wide range of toys to play with, e.g. ...
- Allow children to choose the sports or activities that interest them.
- Let your child see you doing a variety of tasks that may not be ‘typical’ of their gender. ...
What are the stages of gender development?
- Women as mother: He needs a mommy to take care of him.
- Women as sex object: He wants her to make him feel good.
- Women as wife: He wants her loyalty and support.
- Women as guide to healing and awakening: He grows through her need for independence.
- Women as equal partner: He values and meets her as an opposite and equal partner.
What influence does gender have on development?
As children grow and develop over the years, their gender identity and development can be influenced by gender bias in books. Such biases and stereotypes limit the development of a child. Positive behavior, gender roles, and better self-concept, in children, are influenced by books that are not gender-biased.
Why is gender important in early childhood?
Evidence shows that educators need to have gender awareness to be open to girls' and boys' choices in learning and development, help children explore who they are, and make connections to people around them, as well as gain self-confidence, well-being, peer acceptance, and social support.
Why is gender so important?
Gender is of key importance in defining the power, privilege and possibilities that some people have and some people do not have in a given society. It affects progress towards equality and freedom from discrimination.
What is gender bias in early childhood?
Gender stereotypes are harmful when they limit the ability of young people to explore their identity and grow as individuals. Breaking Gender Stereotypes in Early Education contributes to better learning environments for young children and enables a children to develop into happy adults.
Why is gender important in education?
Achieving gender equality in education means that boys and girls will have equal opportunities to realize their full human rights and contribute to and benefit from economic, social, cultural, and political development.
Why does gender matter in education?
Girls and women score higher on graded achievement from elementary school through college, are less likely to drop out of school, and are now more likely than boys to continue to further education (e.g., American Association of University Women Educational Foundation, 1998, Snyder and Dillow, 2011).
Introduction
Gender Identity and Development
Gender Bias in Education Systems
- Education is an important developmental aspect that determines the adoption of gender-based roles and behaviors in children. Teachers have a responsibility to teach children in ways that do not promote fixed behaviors and roles with regard to gender. For example, teachers should desist from classifying behaviors and roles based on gender. When children enter school, they receive t…
How to Eradicate Gender Bias in Education
- First, the current structure of gender socialization should be changed. Boys and girls receive different forms of education because of the gender socialization they undergo (Jyotsna and Page 86). Boys and girls should be taught that they are equal and have the same potential for achievement. Teachers should particularly focus on the plight of girls because they are the mos…
Summary
- Aspects such as gender roles and stereotypes affect child development in various ways. The type of education that children receive plays an important role in shaping their perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors with regard to gender. Children adopt different gender roles and behaviors due to gender typing. Gender typing refers to the process through...
Works Cited
- Banks, James A., and Cherry A. McGee Banks. Multicultural Education: Issues and Perspectives. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2009. Print. Robles de Melendez, Wilma, and Versa Beck. Teaching Young Children in Multicultural Classrooms: Issues, Concepts, and Strategies. New York: Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Jyotsna, Jha, and Elspeth Page. Exploring the Bias: Gender and Stereotypi…