Tretyakova I.A. Gender identity formation at preschool boys and girls during their drawing classes
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Abstract
The author through observation and analysis discerned general differences in cognition and productive activity of boys and girls:
1. Girls prevail in verbal skills, boys – in spatial and mathematical.
2. Cognition is more flexible at girls, and at boys are quicker at it.
3. Girls prefer bright colours and drawings of objects, whereas boys prefer darker colours and tend to draw stories.
4. Girls inquiry in the sake of conversation, boys inquiry to obtain information.
Backed with these results, the author suggests arrangement of teaching process with the gender factor in mind. Consequently, drawing at art classes is not just about development of drawing skills of 2–3 year-old children, but also about formation of their gender identity. The classes are conducted in a play manner and aim at getting children familiar with culture. Such classes help to develop respect for the opposite gender, to understand that boys and girls are different. Classes, where boys and girls perform different tasks for the common purpose, help to overcome disconnection for the sake of more productive activity.