Why Do Parents Treat Girls Differently Than Boys? Filed under ( Adolescence News ) by edy-koerniawan

adolescence in girls ~ "Why Do Parents Treat Girls Differently Than Boys?" Age 14 : Gender is a psychological and cultural term that refers to the meanings attached to being female or male in a particular culture. It is distinct from sex, which refers to the biological aspects of being female or male. Across the United States, expectations for gender roles vary according to culture, socioeconomic class, and sexual orientation. These expectations present a variety of pressures for adolescent girls as they develop into womanhood.

Between the ages of 8 and 11 years, girls tend to be androgynous. They view themselves as strong and confident and are not afraid to say what they think. However, as they cross over into adolescence, girls begin to experience pressure toward more rigid conceptions of gender roles; they become more concerned with how women are ``supposed to behave'' and with their physical and sexual attractiveness. Although research shows that self-esteem decreases for both sexes after elementary school, the drop is more dramatic for girls. Compared with boys of the same age, adolescent girls are more anxious and stressed, experience diminished academic achievement, suffer from increased depression and lower self-esteem, experience more body dissatisfaction and distress over their looks, suffer from greater numbers of eating disorders, and attempt suicide more frequently.

And yet, across cultural groups, adolescent girls hold more flexible and liberal attitudes than boys about the rights and roles of women. White adolescent girls who hold traditional attitudes toward women's roles tend to have lower self-esteem than do girls who hold more liberal views.

Important sources of resistance to and liberation from negative cultural messages for adolescent girls include the following: a strong ethnic identity, close connections to family, learning positive messages about oneself, trusting oneself as a source of knowledge, speaking one's mind, participation in athletics, non-traditional sex typing, feminist ideas, and assertive female role models.

Research Agenda: Gender

• What factors contribute to resilience in adolescent girls who resist stereotyped and negative cultural messages about women?
• What factors support adolescent girls' formation of positive and optimistic perspectives on their developing womanhood and future roles?
• In what ways are adolescent expectations about gender roles influenced by racial and ethnic identities, socioeconomic status, religious values, health, and sexual orientation?

 
Across adolescent girls' group status (ethnic and racial, sexual orientation, socioeconomic, and religious), how do gender-related biological, psychological, and cultural factors interact during adolescence?