Identify and explain three criticisms of Kohlberg's cognitive developmental theory of gender-role development. Using the information in the text about gender development, make an argument for the truth or falsity of these criticisms. Be specific, and provide supportive examples.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer is One criticism of Kohlberg's cognitive developmental theory of gender-role development is that it focuses too much on the individual and does not take into account the influence of social and cultural factors. According to Kohlberg, children develop their gender roles through their own cognitive processes, such as gender identity and gender stability. However, this overlooks the impact of societal norms, media, and family influences on a child's understanding of gender roles.

For example, a study by Bussey and Bandura (1999) found that children's gender-role development is heavily influenced by the behavior and attitudes of their parents, peers, and the media. This suggests that Kohlberg's theory may not fully capture the complexity of gender development, as it does not consider the external influences that shape a child's understanding of gender roles.

Another criticism of Kohlberg's theory is that it does not account for the experiences of individuals who do not fit into traditional gender categories. Kohlberg's theory assumes a binary understanding of gender, where individuals are either male or female, and develop gender roles based on their biological sex. This overlooks the experiences of transgender and non-binary individuals, who may not fit into these traditional categories and may have different experiences of gender development.

For example, research by Lev (2004) found that transgender individuals often have unique experiences of gender development, as they may not identify with the gender roles associated with their biological sex. This suggests that Kohlberg's theory may not fully capture the diversity of gender experiences and development.

Lastly, Kohlberg's theory has been criticized for its lack of consideration of the intersectionality of gender with other social identities, such as race, class, and sexual orientation. Gender development is not experienced in isolation, and individuals may have different experiences of gender roles based on their intersecting social identities. Kohlberg's theory does not account for these intersecting identities and how they may influence a child's understanding of gender roles.

For example, research by Crenshaw (1989) introduced the concept of intersectionality, which highlights how different social identities intersect and influence an individual's experiences. This suggests that Kohlberg's theory may not fully capture the complexity of gender development, as it does not consider how intersecting social identities may shape a child's understanding of gender roles.

In conclusion, while Kohlberg's cognitive developmental theory of gender-role development has provided valuable insights into how children develop their understanding of gender roles, it has been criticized for overlooking the influence of social and cultural factors, not accounting for individuals who do not fit into traditional gender categories, and not considering the intersectionality of gender with other social identities. These criticisms suggest that Kohlberg's theory may not fully capture the complexity of gender development and may need to be expanded to account for these factors.

Identify and Explain Three Criticisms of Kohlberg's Cognitive Developmental Theory