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Young Children's Preferences: Gender, Race, and Social Status
Author(s) -
Shutts Kristin
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
child development perspectives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1750-8606
pISSN - 1750-8592
DOI - 10.1111/cdep.12154
Subject(s) - race (biology) , psychology , developmental psychology , social status , association (psychology) , social psychology , gender studies , sociology , social science , psychotherapist
Abstract In this article, I consider how two aspects of society—social categories (in particular, gender and race) and social status—guide young children's preferences. Research on children's social categories reveals that gender‐based social preferences emerge earlier than race‐based preferences. Recent studies also show that children are attuned to social status, and the association of race with status differences could explain why race influences children's social preferences. I conclude with questions and suggestions for research.