Blogger’s Babble: Gender Schema

Schemas are what we think the ideal object should look like or act like. It is a framework, structure or a plan. If we talk about a chair, our schema of it might contain four legs, a platform on them for sitting, back rest and possibly even arm rest. Now on the basis of this schema, when we encounter an object, we recognize whether it is a chair or not. Schemas help us in functioning faster and recognizing unseen objects as we come across them.

Gender Schemas are organised mental structures that contain our understanding of the attributes and behavior that are appropriate and expected for males and females. – Ben (1981)

To put it in a simpler way, gender schemas are a set of implied hypothesis about sex difference. Stereotypes are certainly one kind of hypothesis but stereotypes and gender schemas are not essentially the same things. ‘Stereotype’ is a more derogatory word whereas ‘gender schema’ is a more inclusive word. It is not these schemas which are wrong but the error which gradually creeps into their formation, maintenance and application (according to Gender Schemas at Work by Case Western Reserve University).

Right from the conception, certain gender schema creep in the baby’s

The Toddler Anatomy- part I

Anika was becoming more and more frustrated day by day. She used to be the jewel of everyone’s eyes- her parents and extended family. She was showered with hugs, kisses and gifts on every small occasion. Her life was pretty much normal just a few months back- and now all of a sudden a pathetic excuse for a baby popped into her family, stealing away all the love, care and attention she got. As if the sudden loss of the warmth wasn’t enough, she now had responsibilities to take care of and a list of expectations to meet. More less than not, she was scolded for inappropriate behavior. However, with time, the sudden shock of dethronement declined and she learned to share. She did develop a fondness for her little brother, but one different from her parents. As they grew together, she (as was expected to) acted as a guide and a caretaker for her brother, helpful in some places and strict in others. She had the power over him, right? Why won’t it be! She was the elder one after all. He would be looking up to her and so she had to set examples for him. Perhaps this was the reason she was bent towards perfectionism- high grades in school, good social life, highly motivated, taking charge of situation, sticking to rules and respecting authority.

What I am trying to put forward from the above instance is the importance of birth order and how it impacts personality, something studied extensively by Alfred Adler (1870-1937).  Birth order leaves impression on everything from the habitual way of dealing with tasks to friendship, love and work.

First born children are believed to be organized, competitive, high-achieving and goal-oriented, with hints of perfectionism. Here, the word ‘believe’ is incorporated after following thousands of first-born. And yes, not everyone fits perfectly in your ‘average’ firstborn’s description. I’m a first-born myself and although I have most of the traits written above, I don’t think I ever felt ‘dethroned’ much.

Since with their birth, couples become parents for the first time (and couple’s parents become grandparents for the first time), everyone is very excited. Child gets attention from everyone even in the extended family. Pampered and given unconditional love from birth until birth of second sibling, they feel sudden loss of warmth