Children’s Appraisals of Gender Nonconformity: Developmental Pattern and Intervention

• Kwan, Karen Man Wa ^[1] ; Shi, Sylvia Yun ^[1] ; Nabbijohn, A. Natisha ^[2] ; MacMullin, Laura N. ^[2] ; VanderLaan, Doug P. ^[2] ; Wong, Wang Ivy ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Hong Kong

     University of Hong Kong

     RAE de Hong Kong (China)

     
  2. [2] University of Toronto

     University of Toronto

     Canadá

     
• Localización: Child development, ISSN 0009-3920, Vol. 91, Nº. 4, 2020, págs. 780-798
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13316
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Gender-nonconforming (GN) children are often perceived less positively, which may harm their well-being. We examined the development of such perceptions and an intervention to modify them. Chinese children?s appraisals were assessed using multiple measures (verbal responses, sharing, and rank order task) after viewing vignettes of gender-conforming (GC) and GN hypothetical peers. In Study 1, children (N = 210; 4-, 5-, 8-, and 9-year-olds) were less positive toward GN than GC peers, especially if they were older or if the peers were boys. In Study 2 (N = 211, 8- and 9-year-olds), showing children exemplars of GN peers who displayed positive and GC characteristics subsequently reduced bias against gender nonconformity. These findings inform strategies aimed at reducing bias against gender nonconformity.