Methodological Strategies Employed in Psychological Studies on Gender Stereotypes Among Children: A Systematic Review

Gender stereotypes are at the core of gender inequality, and understanding their manifestations in childhood is crucial. However, studying these stereotypes presents diverse methodological challenges within the field of psychology. This systematic review aimed to delineate the methodological strategies employed over the past decade to investigate gender stereotypes in children aged up to 12 years. From the databases (BVS, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase), 1770 publications were identified, of which 138 met the eligibility criteria, with some describing multiple studies. A comprehensive analysis of 161 studies was conducted to examine the general characteristics, methodological strategies, and identification of the domain, target, and type of stereotypes. More than half of these studies were published within the last 4 years. Participants were predominantly girls, with the most explored age bracket ranging from 3 to 8 years. The studies primarily adopted a cross-sectional, descriptive, or correlational design with limited utilization of standardized instruments. There was a notable emphasis on explicit stereotypes, which are often assessed using interview. Fifteen distinct domains were identified, including “activities,” “traits and attributes,” “occupations,” and “STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics),” among others. The target of “another person” garnered the most attention, particularly focusing on “attitudes.” The findings underscore a contemporary multidimensional and developmental approach to understanding gender stereotypes, with increasing methodological adaptations tailored for studying children. The discussions highlighted the imperative for longitudinal and intervention studies, more comprehensive investigations involving younger children, the development of standardized measurement tools, transcending gender binarism, and scrutinizing specific gender-related items.