Final answer:
Early gender socialization shapes boys' and girls' reading preferences, with potential effects on their subject choices later in life. Boys are often steered towards sciences through hobby books, and girls towards English with stories about people. These patterns are reinforced by the toys they are given and cultural norms, rather than innate cognitive differences.
Step-by-step explanation:
It can be argued that early differences in gender socialization lead to boys and girls developing different tastes in reading, which may subsequently influence their academic and career interests. Studies have shown that as early as kindergarten, gender socialization begins, affecting boys' and girls' perceptions of their intelligence and importance. This sets a foundation for differential treatment in educational settings, where boys are traditionally praised more and given more freedom, while girls are encouraged to conform and be obedient. The choices of reading material, with boys often directed towards hobby books that promote an interest in the sciences and girls towards stories about people favoring interests in English, can be seen as a continuation of these early patterns of socialization.
Moreover, the influence of parental encouragement and the types of toys children are given can play a substantial role in reinforcing gender roles. Active toys like trucks and superhero figures may enhance boys' spatial and motor skills, potentially swaying them towards scientific fields, while dolls and dress-up apparel encourage nurturing and social skills in girls, possibly leading them towards the humanities and social sciences. Therefore, the divergent paths in subject choice and interest could largely be attributable to cultural and social factors rather than innate cognitive differences between genders. This suggests that efforts to diversify educational materials and combat gender stereotypes could have significant impacts on minimizing gender disparities in various academic and professional fields.