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The influence of center-based care on young children's gender development

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bennet, A; Kuchirko, Y; Halim, ML; Costanzo, PR; Ruble, D
Published in: Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology
July 1, 2020

Many U.S. children spend a significant amount of time in center-based care prior to entering preschool. Previous theory and research would suggest center-based care settings offer important opportunities for gender socialization as children here are surrounded by multiple sources of gender-typing information (e.g. peers, adults, toys and activities). The present longitudinal study examined whether center-based care enrollment status influences level and timing of children's gender-typed behaviors (same-gender friendships, play and appearance), and knowledge (self-categorization and stereotyping) between the ages of 2–5. Participants were children and their mothers of low-income, urban backgrounds (N = 232; African American, Mexican American, and Dominican American). Overall, children enrolled in center-based care at ages 2 and 3 showed higher gender-typing patterns than children enrolled later or not at all. Associations were strongest for same-gender-friendships and gender-typed play, domains that might affect children's subsequent engagement in and learning of certain tasks, skillsets, and activities.

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Published In

Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology

DOI

ISSN

0193-3973

Publication Date

July 1, 2020

Volume

69

Related Subject Headings

  • Developmental & Child Psychology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
 

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Bennet, A., Kuchirko, Y., Halim, M. L., Costanzo, P. R., & Ruble, D. (2020). The influence of center-based care on young children's gender development. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2020.101157
Bennet, A., Y. Kuchirko, M. L. Halim, P. R. Costanzo, and D. Ruble. “The influence of center-based care on young children's gender development.” Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology 69 (July 1, 2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2020.101157.
Bennet A, Kuchirko Y, Halim ML, Costanzo PR, Ruble D. The influence of center-based care on young children's gender development. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. 2020 Jul 1;69.
Bennet, A., et al. “The influence of center-based care on young children's gender development.” Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, vol. 69, July 2020. Scopus, doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2020.101157.
Bennet A, Kuchirko Y, Halim ML, Costanzo PR, Ruble D. The influence of center-based care on young children's gender development. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. 2020 Jul 1;69.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology

DOI

ISSN

0193-3973

Publication Date

July 1, 2020

Volume

69

Related Subject Headings

  • Developmental & Child Psychology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5201 Applied and developmental psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology