Children acknowledge physical constraints less when actors behave stereotypically: Gender stereotypes as a case study. Issue 1 (19th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Amemiya, Jamie; Mortenson, Elizabeth; Ahn, Sohee; Walker, Caren M.; Heyman, Gail D.
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 93:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 72
• Page End: 83
• Publication Date: 2021-08-19
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13643
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

Abstract: A fundamental part of understanding structural inequality is recognizing that constrained choices, particularly those that align with societal stereotypes, are poor indicators of a person's desires. This study examined whether children ( N = 246 U.S. children, 53% female; 61% White, 24% Latinx; 5–10 years) acknowledge constraints in this way when reasoning about gender‐stereotypical choices, relative to gender‐neutral and gender‐counterstereotypical choices. Results indicated that children more frequently inferred preferences regardless of whether the actor was constrained when reasoning about gender‐stereotypical choices, as compared to gender‐neutral or gender‐counterstereotypical choices. We also found evidence of an age‐related increase in the general tendency to acknowledge constraints. We discuss the broader implications of these results for children's understanding of constraints within society.