Developmental Gender Differentiation

SUMMARY

The authors review their Developmental Pathway Models that characterize normative gender differentiation during childhood. Particular attention is paid to the attitudinal pathway model that describes the routes by which children's gender attitudes guide the selection and impact of gender-related experiences for the self. The personal pathway model describes the ways in which children's own interests and skills may affect their gender-related attitudes about others. The authors identify opportunities for the emergence of various kinds of gender nonconformity in relation to the constructs and mechanisms in these models.

Key Words:

• Child development
• development
• gender
• gender attitudes
• gender nonconformity
• gender development
• gender identity disorder
• gender stereotypes
• homosexuality
• sex differences
• sex typing
• sexual orientation