UC Santa Cruz

Gender segregationGender segregation refers to the tendency of most children to affiliate primarily with same-gender peers. This chapter reviews the development and consequences of this phenomenon. First, the developmental trajectory of gender segregation from early childhood into adulthood is summarized. Second, possible explanations for the emergence of gender segregation in early childhood are critically examined. These include the possible influences of family, school, popular media, behavioral compatibilityBehavioral compatibility, and gender-related cognitionsGender-related cognitions. In the third section, the maintenance and consequences of gender-segregatedGender-segregatedpeerPeer groups during middle childhood, adolescence, and adulthood are considered. In the last section, I present a preliminary integrative developmental model. It takes into account the interacting influences of early-appearing variations in behavioral dispositions (including playPlayinterestsInterests and temperamentTemperament), ingroup gender identitiesGender identities, and peer group processes on children’s gender development. The model addresses gender development in cisgenderCisgender children as well as those with transgenderTransgender or other nonbinaryNonbinarygender identitiesGender identities. Finally, I offer several recommendations for future theorizing and research.