Children, Television and Gender Roles

Children, Television and Gender Roles

A critical review of the available evidence concerning what influence television may have on the development of children's understanding of gender roles and of their own gender identity

Television... can play a significant role in a child's growing beliefs and attitudes about what it means to be male or female in the world. (Van Evra, 1990, page 112).

Extensive studies of television have indicated that it is males who dominate the television medium, outnumbering women, on average, by 3:1.

The male who has the authority and the control of the world of television.

Gender role stereotyping is the belief that it is only natural and fitting for males and females to adhere to traditional gender role patterns. (Gross, 1993, page 689).