Gender Roles In Childhood

Gender role has been defined in various ways; for example, it has included a person’s preference for, or adoption of, behavioral characteristics or endorsement of personality traits that are linked to cultural notions of masculinity and femininity. Depending on which parent a child identifies this can provide its own identifier towards which gender role a child will attach themselves to. In childhood, gender roles have been commonly indexed and operationalized with regard to several constraints: peer preferences, toy interests, roles in fantasy play, etcetera. When children are asked “what identifies them as a boy or a girl” children often respond that it is there clothing and not their abilities. (Kerr, Multon, 2015) The stereotypes that
Children in the preschool years tend to base gender on behavior and physical appearance. For example, clothing and hair length are usually indicators to children of the other person's gender. As children vocalize these differences, they are forming their own views on gender role differences. Little boys and girls are careful to make sure their clothing and toy choice are gender specific. A young girl may only wear a certain color associated with femininity, while a boy may insist on wearing his sports hat to indicate his masculinity. This behavior is usually encouraged by peers as well as teachers. Many teachers reward gender stereotypes within the classroom. For example, a teacher may expect boys to be noisier than girls and will therefore be quicker to punish a noisy girl than she will a noisy boy. Through this interaction, the children are learning that girls are to be compliant and quiet, while boys are expected to be aggressive and forceful. The question is that are these two categories like this because of gender roles, a type of self-fulfilling
These factors play into students school settings. Students can feel out of place or awkward in situations where they do not fit the identified gender norms. Often this is seen when students identify as homosexual. Gender roles are often misconstrued when it comes to students who identify as gay or lesbian. Society has deemed that there must always be a female and male counterpart in any relationship, including homosexual relationships. Two men or two women will be asked which person fulfills which rule. However, this is preposterous question since it is possible for both individuals to fulfill both male and feminine