Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A child's gender identity refers to their deeply-held sense of being male, female, or something else. It is the internal perception and understanding of one's own gender.
A condition where an individual experiences distress due to the incongruence between their assigned sex at birth and their gender identity.
Gender Socialization: The process through which society teaches individuals about what it means to be masculine or feminine based on cultural norms and expectations.
A cognitive theory suggesting that children actively develop mental frameworks (schemas) about gender based on societal cues and information they receive.