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

Area of Science:

• Developmental psychology
• Social psychology
• Gender studies

Background:

• Children's perceptions of gender-nonconforming (GN) peers can negatively impact their well-being.
• Understanding the development of these perceptions is crucial for intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the development of children's perceptions of gender-nonconforming (GN) peers.
• To investigate an intervention aimed at reducing bias against GN children.

Main Methods:

• Assessed Chinese children's (ages 4-9) appraisals of hypothetical gender-conforming (GC) and GN peers using verbal responses, sharing tasks, and rank order tasks.
• Study 1 involved 210 children; Study 2 involved 211 children (ages 8-9) who were shown exemplars of GN peers with positive and GC characteristics.

Main Results:

• Children consistently appraised GN peers less positively than GC peers.
• This bias was stronger in older children and when the GN peers were boys.
• Exposure to positive, gender-conforming exemplars of GN peers reduced bias against gender nonconformity.

Conclusions:

• Children's negative perceptions of GN peers develop with age and are influenced by gender.
• Interventions showcasing positive GN exemplars can effectively mitigate bias.
• Findings inform strategies to reduce societal bias against gender nonconformity.