Final answer:
Children learn gender roles through socialization and societal influences. Parents contribute to gender role development by providing gender-appropriate toys and giving positive feedback for gender normative behavior. Gender stereotyping forms the basis of sexism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children learn gender roles through socialization, a process in which they learn to behave in a particular way as dictated by societal values and beliefs. Parents often contribute to gender role development by providing children with gender-appropriate toys and giving positive feedback for gender normative behavior. Children become aware of gender roles by age two or three, and by age four or five, they are firmly entrenched in culturally appropriate gender roles. Gender stereotyping, which involves overgeneralizing about the attitudes, traits, or behavior patterns of men or women, forms the basis of sexism.
Even when parents aim for gender equality, there may still be indications of inequality in the tasks and activities assigned to boys and girls. Fathers tend to have stronger expectations for gender conformity, especially for sons. Parental socialization and normative expectations also vary among different social classes, races, and ethnicities.
Overall, children learn gender roles through various social influences, including parents, peers, and society. These roles shape their behavior, preferences, and expectations based on societal norms and stereotypes.