What are gender roles? How are gender and sex different? Summarize two theoretical approaches to the development of gender roles in children.

Gender roles refer to the societal expectations and norms regarding behaviors, attitudes, and activities that are considered appropriate for individuals based on their perceived or assigned gender. These roles often dictate how individuals should behave, dress, and interact with others based on their gender identity.

Gender and sex are different in that sex refers to the biological characteristics that define male and female, such as reproductive organs and chromosomes, while gender refers to the social and cultural roles, behaviors, and expectations associated with being male or female.

Two theoretical approaches to the development of gender roles in children are social learning theory and cognitive development theory. Social learning theory suggests that children learn gender roles through observation, imitation, and reinforcement from their environment, such as parents, peers, and media. Cognitive development theory, on the other hand, proposes that children actively construct their understanding of gender through their own experiences and interactions, and that their understanding of gender becomes more complex as they develop cognitively. Both theories emphasize the importance of socialization and cognitive processes in shaping children's gender roles.