Summary
The purpose of the study was to explore how young children express their perception of gender dynamics (e.g., gender-bending and gender-doing) in their play. A total of 84 children (52 boys and 32 girls) and 4 teachers from the U.S. and South Korea participated in the study. To capture perspectives from the children, qualitative data were collected from semi-structured interviews, classroom discussion, and children’s free drawings. Data were descriptively analysed to find patterns of the children’s perception. The findings indicated young children from both cultures were aware of the gender differences in their play that reflected gender-doing. The children also perceived that they could bend a little to act like members of the other gender (gender-bending) as their interests emerged within a play context; however, S. Korea kindergarten children, particularly boys, clearly exhibited discomfort when playing with members of the opposite gender or gender-bending in their play dynamics.
Résumé
Le but de cette étude était d’explorer la façon dont les jeunes enfants expriment leurs perceptions de la dynamique sexuelle (par exemple, travestissement ou appartenance sexuelle) au cours de leurs jeux. Au total, 84 jeunes enfants (52 garçons et 32 filles) et 4 enseignants des Etats Unis et de la Corée du Sud ont participé à cette étude. Les données qualitatives ont été collectées sur les points de vue des enfants à partir d’interviews semi-structurés, des discussions de classes et des dessins libres réalisés par les enfants. L’analyse descriptive des données a permis de trouver les modèles de perception des enfants. Les résultats ont indiqué que les jeunes enfants provenant des deux cultures étaient conscients des différences sexuelles au cours de leurs jeux; ce qui prouvait leur appartenance sexuelle. Les enfants se sont aperçus aussi qu’ils pourraient se travestir pour agir comme les membres de l’autre sexe (travestissement) si leurs intérêts étaient menacés lors d’un jeu; cependant, les enfants Sud-Coréens de la maternelle, particulièrement les garçons, ont clairement affiché leur gêne au cours des jeux avec des membres du sexe opposé.
Resumen
El propósito de este estudio fue investigar como los niños expresan su percepción en relación a la dinámica entre sexos mientras juegan (e.g. deferir y ser). En este estudio participaron un total the 84 niños (52 niños y 32 niñas) y 4 maestras de los Estados Unidos y Corea del Sur. Para recopilar data cualitativa y la información relacionada con las perpectivas de los niños, se Ilevaron a cabo entrevistas semi estructuradas, discussiones en los salones de clases y se recopilaron dibujos completados libremente por los niños. La data fue analizada descriptivamente para determinar los patrones en las percepciones de los niños. Los resutados indicaron que los niños de ambas culturas sabian de las diferencias entre los sexos en aquellos juegos que reflejaban “ser” gender doing. Los niños también percibieron que podian deferir (gender-bending) un poco para poder actuar como miembros del otro sexo según fuera necessario para participar en el juego. Es importante indicar que los niños del Corea del Sur, especialmente los varones, claramente exhibieron incomodidad cuando jugaban con miembros del sexo opuesto o tenian que deferir durante el juego.
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Hyun, E., Choi, D.H. Examination of young children’s gender-doing and gender-bending in their play dynamics: A cross-cultural exploration. IJEC 36, 49–64 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03165940
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03165940