Gender Development

Start with the key terms

Begin with the notes Gender Development - Concepts, which introduce the distinction between sex and gender. The notes Gender development also look at genetic and morphological sex and describe gender roles as cultural expectations. Reading these resources together gives you a starting point for the terms used elsewhere on the page.

Next, use the Sex and Gender Key Terms flashcards to practice vocabulary. The deck includes gender identity, gender stereotypes, gender schema and gender role. Try explaining each term in your own words before checking the card.

Move from maps to quizzes

The Gender Development mind maps offer several ways to organize the topic. One covers gender identity, gender typing, stereotypes and roles, including instrumental and expressive traits. Another brings together gender identity stages, gender-typed behavior and biological and social learning perspectives. A further map focuses on biological aspects of sex.

After studying a map, try the quiz that asks about physical attributes, social context and infants' gender-linked toy preferences. Use its questions to identify terms or ideas you want to look at again. Return to the relevant map or notes, then use the flashcards for another round of practice.

Place the topic in the unit

Gender Development is a section of Developmental Psychology: Foundations and Early Development in Psychology. The resources give you different ways to work through this section of the unit: notes introduce distinctions, maps organize ideas, and quizzes let you practice using them.

A mind map on gender schema theory and gender constancy theory offers another route through the topic. Compare the terms in that map with those in the flashcards as you study. Choose a map and use it to plan your next study session.