Final answer:
Gender schema theory explains that gender becomes a lens through which children view their experiences. It suggests that gender roles are learned from culture and influence individual behavior, which is reinforced by socialization through family, education, peer groups, and mass media.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory that posits that gender becomes a lens through which children view their experiences is known as gender schema theory. This theory suggests that children learn about the characteristics associated with being male or female from their culture, and this knowledge influences how they think, feel, and act. It's a cognitive theory which explains how individuals become gendered in society and how sex-linked characteristics are maintained and transmitted to other members of a culture. Gender schemas are developed early in life through socialization processes involving family, education, peer groups, and mass media. They frame the way children interpret their experiences and how they interact with others, reinforcing the traditional gender binary and leading to the stratification of males and females.
For example, social norms and stereotypes may lead children to associate certain toys, behaviors, or careers with one gender over another. These early experiences and social cues inform children's understanding of gender roles and can have a lasting impact on their perceptions and behavior. Gender socialization is deeply embedded in everyday activities and is reaffirmed continuously through a variety of societal mechanisms.