Explain, using theory and evidence how a child’s peer group affect their gender typing.
Gender typing is a process by which a child obtains the values, motives, and behaviours considered suitable for their gender in a particular culture. Research has shown that children normally around the age of two are already aware of the stereotypical trades associated with their gender type.
In (1961) Bandura in connection with Social Learning Theory went and created the Bobo Doll experiment. In this study, Bandura wanted to prove how influential figures such as parents, friends, teachers or any adult could have an effect on how a child acts towards a certain object. Bandura let a group of children observe the behaviour a group of adults showed towards
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The children who had been watching the video were then asked how they would feel if they were playing with toys either considered to be ‘boys’ toys or ‘girls’ toys, the children disapproved of gender inappropriate play and said it would be wrong for them to play with the ‘wrong’ toys.
Also in (2007) Freeman asked a group of parents how they would feel if their children who were between the ages of 3 -5 years started playing with non-gender associated toys, the parents expressed that it wouldn’t be a problem and that they would allow their child to play with whatever toys they preferred. Freeman then went on to ask the children how they thought their parents would react in relation to wrong toy play, the children had a different viewpoint predicting their parents would disapprove of their cross-gender choices.
In (1980) Langlois & Downs stated that parent’s behaviour had a massive impact on children and that straight from birth parents tend to treat their children differently depending on their gender, especially fathers. They found that parents expect boys to be masculine, play football and be strong while girls are feminine, soft, small, delicate and always needing a