Abstract
The book is focused on cognitive and social aspects of gender socialization at primary and low secondary schools (it means for age from 6 to 15 years). Through the research I have been looking for answers to the following questions: 1) What are gender schemas of girls and boys? What is the extent of similarity and variability of gender schemas across different age groups and gender?, 2) What is the structure of school peer groups? What is the social status of girls and boys? What kind of relationships develop between girls and boys?, 3) What strategies do children use to build their gender schemas within peer groups? The research design is multiple case studies of school peer groups.
Each case study combines several methods of data collection: a) an unstructured and semi-structured observations in the groups during classes and breaks, b) drawings of ideal girl and ideal boy (as a tool for detection of gender schemas), c) sociometry questionnaire, d) group and individual interviews with children, e) individual interviews with teachers. Analytical procedures include both qualitative and quantitative approaches.