Four-year-old Austin believes that only girls can be nurses. At his next check-up, he happens to be seen by a male nurse. According to gender-schema theory, if a week later you were to ask Austin if boys can be nurses, his answer would most likely be

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According to gender-schema theory, children have cognitive frameworks that guide their understanding of gender roles. Austin's existing schema likely reinforces the belief that only girls can be nurses, and a single encounter with a male nurse may not be enough to alter this schema.

Four-Year-Old Austin Believes That Only Girls Can Be Nurses