Final answer:
Children tend to internalize rigid gender schemas early in life through societal socialization, but as they reach adolescence, they start to question and move beyond these roles. Teenagers become more open to flexibility in gender identity and expressions, influenced by a broader societal shift towards viewing gender as a spectrum and recognizing diverse gender identities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gender schemas, which are the cognitive structures that dictate the roles and behaviors deemed appropriate for men and women, tend to solidify in early childhood. Children learn about cultural norms and expectations of gender roles at a very young age, with awareness of such roles often starting as early as two or three years old. Rigidity in these schemas is reinforced by ongoing socialization processes, and these schemas tend to dictate that there are certain things that each gender does which are considered part of their identity.
However, as individuals reach adolescence, these gender schemas become more flexible, allowing teenagers to question and sometimes abandon rigid norms associated with their gender. This shift can be associated with cognitive development as well as increased exposure to diverse perspectives and identities, such as understanding that masculinity and femininity are not binary and fixed categories. The process of challenging these norms is often observed in adolescents who begin to see their activities, like riding a motorcycle, not as inherently masculine or feminine but simply as an expression of personal interest.
This conceptual shift towards gender flexibility is further informed by recognition of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals, shifting perceptions of millennials and Generation Z towards gender as a spectrum, and a departure from traditional gender-based marketing. Amid these changing tides, adolescents start to understand that their actions and interests need not be constrained by the gender they were assigned at birth.