The Role of Stereotypes in Gender Development and Disparities

Learning about the social world, including gender, is a key developmental task of childhood. Children learn about gender stereotypes from their second year of life, and those stereotypes can shape their cognitions and behavior. This review describes gender stereotype measurement, including implicit, explicit, and indirect measures of stereotypes, as well as multiple domains of stereotypes, including personality traits and academic stereotypes, with attention to intersectionality between gender and race/ethnicity in the targets and perceivers of stereotypes. We describe the formation and development of stereotypes using developmental intergroup theory. We discuss the consequences of stereotypes for children's self-perceptions and choices using the gender self-socialization model and situated expectancy-value theory. We present an integrated model for the development and consequences of stereotypes that brings these theoretical perspectives together. Although research suggests that changing stereotypes is difficult, we review successful examples of how to change stereotypes and suggest important directions for future research.