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Children’s Appraisals of Gender Nonconformity: Developmental Pattern and Intervention
Author(s) -
Kwan Karen Man Wa,
Shi Sylvia Yun,
Nabbijohn A. Natisha,
MacMullin Laura N.,
VanderLaan Doug P.,
Wong Wang Ivy
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.13316
Subject(s) - nonconformity , psychology , developmental psychology , intervention (counseling) , perception , psychiatry , operations management , economics , neuroscience
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.