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A recent survey reveals that girls, from a very young age, are concerned about their appearance and, more generally, subject to the dictates of appearance compared to little boys.
Gender stereotypes remain very strong in our society. A study published in the journal Child Development and relayed by the media Fast Companyindicates that little girls are more likely to pay attention to their outfits, so that they are pretty, even elegant.
Questions about clothing
Researchers at California State University surveyed 170 girls and boys ages 3 to 5. They were first asked how much they identified with their gender. Then, the children were shown four photos of different outfits, ranging from gender-neutral (a T-shirt and jeans) to highly gendered, sophisticated outfits (a suit for boys and a purple dress with rhinestones for girls). The researchers then asked them which look they would most like to wear. The children were also asked about their favorite superheroes and Disney characters and why they liked them. More questions about appearance and attracting attraction followed.
Girls pay more attention to appearance than boys
Overall, girls place more importance on their appearance than boys. Girls, especially those with strong gender identification, are also more likely to choose outfits for appearance-related jobs, such as modeling or makeup artist.
Girls were also five times more likely than boys to say they liked a character because of their appearance. For example, they liked Rapunzel because of her long hair and shoes. Boys were more likely to say they liked a character based on what they did. For example, they liked Spider-Man because he shoots webs.
The study authors suggest that there are many reasons for this early gender gap. This includes the absorption of stereotypes from the media, especially since previous studies have shown a link between media consumption and concern for appearance.
On a slightly pessimistic note, the study suggests that even when parents encourage gender-neutral behavior, it may not be enough to offset these influences.
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