How to Help Children Understand Gender Roles

In a perfect world, people are treated according to what kind of person they are inside. It is not a perfect world, however, and society functions with beliefs and stereotypes based on gender. Children recognize differences in gender at a young age and receive mixed messages from parents, teachers and society. Help children understand differences in gender roles now so that they will make better decisions in their futures.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Talk to your child about differences between boys and girls. Be clear that about actual physical differences and perceived differences.

2. Point out exceptions to beliefs about what boys and girls can do. Suzie may be good at baseball and science. Joe might write poetry. Show how stereotypes are overturned in your own family.

3. Discuss examples of gender roles in books, television and movies. For example, Leslie in "The Bridge to Terabithia" isn't supposed to race with the boys, even though she is the fastest runner.

4. Make children aware of possible sex-linked roles at school. If you notice that boys are the only ones who play with blocks, ask your daughter why she or other girls don't play blocks too.

5. Demonstrate different gender roles in the home. Show children that dad likes to cook and mom enjoys yard work.

6. Recognize that expectations according to gender become quite strong as children reach puberty. Continue to look for ways to discuss gender roles in everyday life. Listen and support your child when he or she is frustrated.

Tips & Warnings

• It has been determined that societal gender role expectations may be a factor in teenage depression, particularly with girls. Recognize the signs of major depression and seek treatment as soon as possible.
• As boys grow older, they are encouraged to hide their feelings. Give your son opportunities to discuss feelings at home.

Resources

• More About the Psychology of Gender Roles