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Gender Schemas and Relationships in School Peer Groups

Publication at Faculty of Education, Faculty of Humanities |
2020

Abstract

School peer group is a natural environment for gender socialization, including its cognitive and socio-emotional aspects. Girls and boys develop their gender schemas, build their gender identity and learn gender patterns in behaviour in this context.

The paper presents a study of 435 students of primary and lower-secondary schools who were studied as individuals and as members of social groups. Data were collected via drawings, observation and sociometry questionnaires.

Results show that gender schemas were rather homogenous, rigid and contrasting masculinity and femininity. Connection between schemas and behaviour was not stable.

Four strategies of students' reactions in gendered situations were identified. Social position of students with unconventional gender schemas was rather low in a group.