GENDER DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT QUESTION

GENDER DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT QUESTION

GENDER DEVELOPMENT

Gender typing is a process through which males and females are categorized based on some traits. There are many traits and stereotypes associated with a specific gender. In most of the cultures, women are perceived to be weak and dependent while men are considered to be determined and adventurous. The development of gender typing may start with the sense of being a male or a female. In the video Boy Meets Girl, the two children base their understanding of gender typing on cognitive development theory of gender typing. (In Leman, & In Tenenbaum, 2014).

In the movie, Free to be You and Me – Princess Atlantis, the scenario relates to the social learning theory of gender typing. The king is an agent of socialization and believes that based on the cultural norms and stereotypes, her daughter must get married and he must be the one to choose a husband for her. Atlantics, however, is aware of these stereotypes and refuses to fall a victim. She intends to get out and see the world before deciding on whether or not to get married. (Ross, 2012).

There are many gender stereotypes in our society that continue to shape our gender identity. Personally, I used to believe in the common stereotype that only men are supposed to work in fields that are more technical. One strategy of discouraging stereotyping in childhood educational settings is by promoting traits that have been over-cultivated in one gender on the other. This would change the children’s perceptions of those traits in terms of gender. Another strategy is for the educators to challenge their own stereotyping attitudes. This would enable educators to be aware of the possible ways through which children may be short-changed in the world and to change where necessary. (Crawford, 2012).

References

Crawford, M. (2012). Transformations: Women, gender & psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill.

In Leman, P., & In Tenenbaum, H. (2014). Gender and development.

Ross, K. (2012). The handbook of gender, sex, and media. Malden: Wiley-Blackwell.