Evaluation of the Gender Schema theory of gender development?

I really do not understand what the gender schema theory of gender development is and the strengths and weaknesses of it.

I need at least 2 strengths/weaknesses.

Can one weakness be that it doesn't explain why some children are more gender schematized them others?

Thanks :smile:

Reply 1

Justified

Yeah you can say as a weakness that it doesn't explain individual differences, why some children develop gender schema before others, you could elaborate by saying it doesn't take into account biological differences between boys and girls, boys have testosterone which masculinises the brain 3 months after conception.
Another point is that it doesn't take into account enviromental factors such as social learning theory or the affects of nurture.

For the strengths you could write that Gender Schema sees children as actively seeking out gender beliefs, rather than being passive like the behavioural theory would suggest, in terms of if your being directly tuitioned by others what is appropriate and inappropriate your being taught rather than learning for yourself.
Finally you can say that it's an improvement on other theories such as Kohlbergs theory of Gender development as it takes into account ages much better, support from Martin and Little who found that children already have developed gender schema before the age of four.

Hope this has helped :smile:

Reply 2

tashaemjacobs

all of the above + it doesn't explain why some females adopt 'male' gender roles (like playing football etc) and vice versa why some children younger than 2 years old pick out gender specific toys
How was the exam today otherwise?