Differential Influences of Gender Schemata and Gender Constancy on Children's Information Processing and Behavior

Abstract

A cross-sectional sample of 60 children at three age levels (kindergarten, second grade, and fourth grade) was used to test hypotheses derived from both gender schema theory (e.g., Martin & Halverson, 1981) and gender constancy theory (e.g., Kohlberg, 1966). Supporting the prediction that the effects of developing gender schemata are likely to be revealed most clearly on information processing measures, the proportion of gender-role consistent (versus inconsistent) pictures that children recalled on a picture memory task increased across age level. Supporting the hypothesis that the attainment of gender constancy would be revealed most clearly on measures reflecting motivational aspects of gender, children who had reached constancy made more distortions of gender-role inconsistent television commercials to be gender-role consistent, and showed a greater preference for same-sex toys in comparison to nonconstant children. Results are discussed in terms of differential influences of gender schemata and gende...