What is a gender schema?

A gender schema refers to the cognitive framework that organizes and interprets information related to gender roles and expectations. It encompasses a set of behaviors, attributes, and characteristics that are culturally associated with being male or female. This framework helps individuals to categorize and make sense of their own experiences and the behaviors of others in a gendered context.

The concept of gender schema plays a key role in how children learn and internalize societal norms associated with gender, influencing their preferences, interests, and interactions. For instance, children might gravitate towards toys, activities, or friendships that align with their understanding of gender roles, which they often learn through socialization processes in family, media, and peer environments.

In contrast, the other options explore different aspects of social behavior and cognitive development but do not specifically relate to the structured approach to understanding gender roles and expectations that a gender schema embodies.