Final answer:
Martin and Little's work supports gender schema theory, demonstrating that children grasp gender roles before achieving gender consistency, which contrasts with Kohlberg's suggestion that gender consistency comes first. Gender roles are learned through socialization, and Carol Gilligan's research highlights potential gender biases in Kohlberg's work, revealing differences in moral development between genders.
Step-by-step explanation:
Martin and Little's findings support gender schema theory which suggests that children acquire information about gender-appropriate behaviors before gender consistency is achieved. This contrasts with Kohlberg's theory, which implies that gender consistency precedes the awareness and adoption of gender roles. Martin and Little indicate that children are aware of gender roles at an early age, much sooner than Kohlberg's theory would predict, which marks option (c) 'Gender consistency precedes role acquisition' as the Kohlberg's suggestion highlighted in the student's question.
The process of gender socialization starts early in life, where children learn expected behaviors associated with their sex from various socialization agents, like family, peers, and media. Toys and play are observed channels where gender norms are often reinforced. Carol Gilligan's research on moral development points out the potential gender biases in Kohlberg’s work, suggesting that boys and girls may develop different moral reasoning due to their gendered socialization.
Differences in gender socialization can lead to a stratified understanding of roles and responsibilities, perpetuating gender stereotypes and potentially creating barriers to equality. Thus, the discussion of gender roles and their development is crucial to understanding and addressing societal constructions around gender.