Gender differentiation in children’s actions: A sociocultural perspective on the transition from kindergarten to primary school
| Project responsable | Martina Cabra |
| Thesis director | Tania Zittoun |
| Abstract |
The main aim of the present project is to explore gender
differentiation in the actions of children in transition between
kindergarten and primary school. We propose a sociocultural
approach to the topic, yet addressing the consequences of the
debates in gender studies for theory building in developmental
psychology. This means that we will study how cultural guidance
takes place, by a semiotic analysis of children’s actions. To
address gender differences from this angle we will pay attention to
three different perspectives: the child’s perspective, the study of
the environment in which children live (how it is organised), and
concrete interactions (peer- and adult-child interactions). The
methodology is qualitative and includes interviews and ethnographic
observations. These will be done with a particular focus on play
scenes where we’ll try to identify evolving themes in gender-marked
play. The project involves a longitudinal in depth case study of
children finishing kindergarten and starting primary school. We
follow targeted children in school and outside formal settings of
education. Our general aim will thus be to identify elements
participating to the progressive appearance of gender differences
in children in transition between kindergarten and primary school.
We will thus trace back these elements to peer- and adult-child
interactions, daily life situations, experiences and the child’s
perspective, possibly contributing to a better understanding of how
gender participates of child development. |
| Keywords |
Child development - Gender - Play - Sociocultural psychology |
| Type of project | Dissertation project |
| Research area | Developmental sociocultural psychology |
| Method of financing | Swiss Confederation Doctoral Fellowship & Doctoral assistant at the University of Neuchâtel |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Start of project | 21-10-2017 |
| End of project | 1-10-2021 |
| Contact | Martina Cabra |