Janet and john use to enjoy their shopping trips with their mum, as they were both influenced to go out with her. At this time, when they both enjoy the trip, they have both been through the first and second stages of Kohlbergs cognitive theory. The first is, ‘Gender Identity’, this is from the ages of two to three and a half, when the child can identify his/her sex but isn’t yet aware that it’s fixed. The second stage, ‘Gender Stability’, is when the twins are at the age of three and a half to four and a half and they realise their gender is fixed, but is largely determined by superficial characteristics such as clothing.
They both enjoy the shopping trips because they are mimicking their mother and her behaviour, even if that means shopping, as she is the one who goes shopping not the dad. John doesn’t realise that male and females do gender associated things such as a man would go to a pub more often than a women, whereas the mother would generally do the shopping for the family. But Janet is simply mimicking her mother, as she would like to be like her when she grows up.
Now as the twins are now 5-year-old, they have reached the final stage of the cognitive theory, age four and a half to seven. At this stage of their life they have not only realised that they sex wont change and is fixed for life and they will always be the same sex, but also that they when a person changes their appearance, their gender does not change. For example, if the twins were to see a man wearing a kilt, they would now that even though a skirt is associated with a girl, that person is still male. Or if women were to cut her hair short, they would still know that she was a woman, even though short hair is associated with boys.
Now the twins have been through all three stages, John now realises that he should be mixing with the same sex as himself. He has realised that him and his dad are the same sex, therefore mimics him. As his dad is male and he is watching sport on TV, john has associated this activity with males, therefore wants to do the same as he knows that he is male himself.
Whereas, Janet has realised the same as John, that she too should be mimicking her mother, as they are the same sex, therefore is still quite happy to go shopping with her, as that’s what females do.
So the twins have gone through the three stages of Kohlbergs cognitive theory, and now have gender development under control and know how they are to fit into the world.
