Gender Identity Development in Childhood

Dr. Anjali Ferguson, Ph.D.

Did you know children begin their gender identity development as early as 2 years of age?

There is so much we intentionally and unintentionally do as parents to promote and support this process. Gender exploration is a normative process of development that occurs several times throughout our childhood and can continue to occur into adulthood. It is important that as parents we understand these processes and meet every child with love and support through their individual journey.

Sex

The assigned gender of an individual based on physical characteristics at birth.

Gender

A social construct of an internal state that is informed by intersections of biology, development, and environment.

Gender is a social construct.

This means that gender is not based on true biological or scientific differences (sex) but was rather created by society to classify behaviors. Culture and society influence how gender is expressed and how people operate in the world.

For example, the notions that; “boys are active,” “girls like pink” have no scientific rationale, they were just created based on thought.

Historically, gender diversity was considered a mental health condition. Modern classification/diagnostic manuals to this day include a pathological condition related to gender identity; HOWEVER, Gender diversity, exploration, development, and fluidity is not pathological.

Age 2

Children start to notice physical  difference.

Age 3

Children can label themselves boy or girl.

Age 4

Children have an understanding of their gender identity.

The data shows that children who are gender diverse (i.e. non-conforming or non-matched with their biological sex) know their gender just as clearly as their gender-matched peers. Children who express a gender-diverse identity who feel supported by their family experience lower depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety (www.cdc.org).