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Gender understanding and sex-role stereotyping in preschoolers: Implications for caregivers

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Abstract

A research review indicates that although most preschoolers see gender as a relatively stable personal attribute, they do not realize that gender is constant despite stylistic and behavioral variations. This misunderstanding contributes to a period of sex-role inflexibility. Implications for child care are discussed.

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Reference Note

  • Urberg, K.A. The development of androgynous sex-role concepts in young children. Paper presented at the Society for Research in Child Development, San Francisco, 1979.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Winnipeg, Canada

    Warren O. Eaton

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  1. Warren O. Eaton
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Additional information

This work has been supported by research grants from the University of Manitoba Research Board and from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Mary M. Eaton's helpful comments on drafts of this paper are gratefully acknowledged.

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Eaton, W.O. Gender understanding and sex-role stereotyping in preschoolers: Implications for caregivers. Child Youth Care Forum 12, 28–35 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01258077

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