Critical Thinking Questions

1. The two children pictured at the start of the chapter display gender-typed differences in their behavior and interests. How would the different theories outlined in this chapter attempt to explain these differences and similarities? How would different theories account for other children who have more flexible gender-typed behaviors and interests?
2. Think about how females and males were portrayed in television shows, movies, and video games as you were growing up. How might these depictions have affected your gender development?
3. Imagine that you wanted to raise your own children to be as minimally gender-typed as possible. Which of the theoretical perspectives outlined in the chapter would you rely on most? Do you think you would be more likely to achieve your goal with a daughter or a son?
4. Suppose you are speaking with an evolutionary psychology theorist who tells you that biology makes gender differences in behavior inevitable. What evidence could you use to challenge this view? What evidence could you use to support it?
5. Historically, men have held dominant status in society, but in the last century, women have significantly increased their status and power in the United States and in many other countries. Women now occupy top ranks in many occupations, and men are more involved in child-care and housework. Do you think that this trend toward gender equality among adults will affect the kinds of play activities and behaviors in which girls and boys engage in the future?