Mother-Child Conversations about Gender (Paperback)

Simone Nguyen

ISBN 10: 1405131888 / ISBN 13: 9781405131889

Published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd, Hoboken, 2004

About this Item

Paperback. This monograph provides the first in-depth look at how mothers and young children talk about gender, to discover the potential role of language in fostering gender stereotypes. Mothers and their sons/daughters, who were 2-, 4-, or 6- years of age, were videotaped discussing a picture book that focused on gender. A consistent contrast was found between mothers explicit endorsement of gender stereotypes and implicit emphasis on gender. Although mothers rarely expressed gender stereotypes directly, they emphasized gender concepts indirectly, by referring to gender categories, providing gender labels, contrasting males and females, and giving approval to their childrens stereotyped statements. With increasing age, children were more focused on gender categories and stereotypes, but also more gender-egalitarian. Gender-egalitarian items (e.g., a female firefighter) were associated with less overt stereotyping, but also with more implicit talk about gender. Altogether, mothers language input conveys a wealth of subtle messages about gender from which children may construct their own beliefs. A monograph that looks at how mothers and young children talk about gender, to discover the potential role of language in fostering gender stereotypes. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781405131889

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Mother-Child Conversations about Gender (Paperback)
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd, Hoboken
• Publication Date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1405131888
• ISBN 13: 9781405131889
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

This monograph provides the first in-depth look at how
mothers and young children talk about gender, to discover
the potential role of language in fostering gender stereotypes.
Mothers and their sons/daughters, who were 2-½,
4-½, or 6-½ years of age, were videotaped discussing a
picture book that focused on gender. A consistent contrast
was found between mothers’ explicit endorsement
of gender stereotypes and implicit emphasis on gender.
Although mothers rarely expressed gender stereotypes
directly, they emphasized gender concepts indirectly, by
referring to gender categories, providing gender labels,
contrasting males and females, and giving approval to
their children’s stereotyped statements. With increasing
age, children were more focused on gender categories
and stereotypes, but also more gender-egalitarian.
Gender-egalitarian items (e.g., a female firefighter) were
associated with less overt stereotyping, but also with more
implicit talk about gender. Altogether, mothers’ language
input conveys a wealth of subtle messages about gender
from which children may construct their own beliefs.

About the Author

Susan A. Gelman is currently Heinz Werner Distinguished University Professor of psychology and linguistics and the director of the Conceptual Development Laboratory at the University of Michigan. Marianne Taylor is the editor of Mother-Child Conversations about Gender, published by Wiley.