CHANGES AND DIFFERENCES IN PRESCHOOLERS UNDERSTANDING OF GENDER SCRIPTS

Accuracy in sequencing gender scripts, use of the gender-role and temporal components of gender scripts, and taxonomic gender-role knowledge were assessed in 3- to 6-year-old children. Older children exhibited significantly more accurate sequencing of masculine and feminine gender-scripts than younger children. Boys demonstrated significantly more accurate sequencing of own-sex than other-sex gender scripts. With the effect of gender-script understanding controlled for statistically, younger children based significantly more script follow-up judgements on the gender-role component of gender scripts than older children. Taxonomic gender-role knowledge by children was not significantly associated with their accuracy at sequencing gender scripts. Results substantiate and expand our understanding of early social cognitive development.