Theories of

Gender Development

Gender Schema Theory

Introduction
Gender schema theory was formally introduced by Sandra Bem in 1981 as a cognitive
theory to explain how individuals become gendered in society, and how sex-linked
characteristics are maintained and transmitted to other members of a culture.

Gender-associated information is predominantly transmuted through society by way of

schemata, or networks of information that allow for some information to be more easily
assimilated than others.

Bem argues that there are individual differences in the degree to which people hold these
gender schemata. These differences are manifested via the degree to which individuals are
sex-typed.
What is a Schema?
A schema is a packet of thoughts – a mental building block of thinking.

This shorthand way of thinking saves us having to wade through lots of thoughts to reach a
conclusion (ex. jeepney routes tend to combine Cabuyao-Sta Rosa bayan, Hiway-Complex,
Balibago-Biñan hiway-Pavilion etc.).

It can be strengthened or changed as a result of experience (ex. jeepneys changing routes

based on their passengers’ destinations).

Children could also put together a schema of what is normal for each gender and ways in
how to grow in that schema.
What is Gender Schema Theory?
Gender schema theory is a cognitive theory of gender development that says that gender is a
product of the norms of one’s culture. The theory was originated by psychologist Sandra Bem in
1981. It suggests that people process information, in part, based on gender-typed
knowledge.
- proposes that children create cognitive schema of gender (called gender schemas) that they derive from the norms
of their culture.
- it is a theory of process, focusing on the way people process and utilize the information their culture
provides about masculinity and femininity.
- it does not account for the specific content of gender schemas as they may differ between cultures.
- Bem suggests that people fall into one of four gender categories
Gender Schema Theory
Gender Schemas
Gender schemas are cognitive structures that contain gender-specific attributes borne out of their
culture.
- enables people (specifically children) to apply to themselves a subset of schemas to match their own sex
to themselves, influencing their self-concept.
- affects their sense of adequacy which may be based on their ability to live up to the appropriate gender
schema.

Ex. A traditional culture may maintain strict divisions between men and women, such that
women are expected to take care of the household and raise children while men work
outside the home and support the family. Children raised in such a culture will develop
gender schema in line with what they observe, and through their schema, will develop an
understanding of what they can do as a boy or girl.
Gender Schema Theory
Gender Categories
According to Bem, people may fall into one of four gender categories:

1. Sex-typed individuals identify with the gender that corresponds to their physical sex. These
individuals process and integrate information according to their schema for their
gender.

2. Cross-sex typed individuals process and integrate information according to their schema for
the opposite gender.

3. Androgynous individuals process and integrate information based on their schema for both
genders.

4. Undifferentiated individuals have difficulty processing information based on any gender

schema.
Gender Schema Theory
Bem Sex Role Inventory
The Bem Sex Role Inventory is an instrument created by Sandra Bem to place people into
the four gender categories.
- The scale presents 60 attributes, such as assertive or tender, that respondents rate based on how well
each attribute describes them.
- Twenty of the attributes correspond to a culture’s idea of masculinity, twenty correspond to the
culture’s idea of femininity, and the final twenty are neutral.
- Individuals are scored on masculinity and femininity on a continuum.
- If they score above the mid-point on the scale that conforms to their sex and below it on the scale
that doesn’t conform to their sex, they fall into the sex-typed gender category. The opposite is true
for cross-sex typed individuals.
- Androgynous individuals score above the mid-point on both scales
- Undifferentiated individuals score below the mid-point on both scales.
Limitations of Gender Schema Theory
1. It does not take into account biological or social interactions that may impact gender
development.
2. The content of gender schema is unclear. It would be difficult to measure its’ impact if
their content is not completely understood.
3. Gender schemas, being cognitive in nature, seems to predict thinking, attention and
memory but is a poor predictor of behavior. Thus, one’s gender schema may not match
the behavior one exhibits.
4. There are more broad sociological theories that dominate the psychology of gender and
subsequent research.