Final answer:
It is false that children cannot apply gender labels consistently until they are 5 or 6 years old; children are aware of gender roles and can label themselves by age two or three.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that children usually cannot apply gender labels (boy or girl, man or woman) with any consistency until they are 5 or 6 years old is false. Studies have shown that children learn at a young age there are distinct expectations for boys and girls, and they are aware of their gender roles by age two or three. By four or five, most children are firmly entrenched in culturally appropriate gender roles and able to apply gender labels correctly to themselves and others.
Children acquire these roles through socialization, absorbing societal values, beliefs, and attitudes. They express these roles in behavior and play, which can include labeling themselves in terms of gender. It is important to note that while most children can label their gender consistently at an early age, individual experiences with gender identity can vary greatly, and some children may express or identify with a gender different from the one assigned at birth.