Gender Constancy
Assisting children to develop proper gender identification is very significant in the early stages of their lives. Besides, identifying gender not only aids in the children’s development but also impacts their future lives. The four components of developing proper gender identification are; understanding gender based on gender labels, gender permanency, gender constancy, and understanding the genital basis of gender. From the components above, I believe gender constancy has the most influence in helping a child develop proper gender identification.
Gender constancy enables children to develop knowledge that one’s gender cannot change whether they alter their dressing code, lifestyle, or characters. Besides, gender constancy is an important component underlying the expression of sex-typed characters (Sravanti, 1). Right from birth, parents dress their children in different ways irrespective of their gender, which in some cases may affect their thoughts on gender. Teaching children on gender constancy is of great help in such situations and aids in their development.
Moreover, based on family status, some children grow up doing chores not meant for their gender, like boys cooking and washing dishes. The children might develop with a bad belief in gender if not assisted at the early stages of childhood. Through gender constancy, they will develop an understanding that their gender remains unchanged irrespective of the type of clothes or life they live. Besides, unlike other components, gender constancy insists on the gender maintenance of a kid despite their activities from childhood. Understanding gender labels and genital basis only assist children in identifying gender but not the factors affected by alteration in their lifestyle. Besides, gender permanency emphasizes the changes in one’s body as they develop but ignoring their behaviors in the process.
From the discussion above, gender constancy is the most critical component that helps children understand proper gender identification. Gender constancy entails information left out by the other three components which might be of help to the development of children. In conclusion, teaching children on gender constancy can aid improve their character in the future since they clearly understand their gender and how they should act.
Work Cited
Sravasti, Lakshmi. “Gender Identity: Emergence in Preschoolers.” Journal of Psychosexual Health 1.3-4 (2019): 286-287.