At what age gender identity is established in children?

Gender identity refers to one's inner conviction of themselves as either male or female. The gender identities served to classify both individuals and groups as often group boundaries were drawn around women and their representation.

Key Points

Gender identity is established in children at the age of 4 years. At this age most children:

• become conscious of the physical differences between boys and girls.

• develop the ability to label and categorize themselves as either boy or a girl.
• learn gender role behavior such as 'things that boys do' or 'things that girls do'.

• develop the ability to recognize the stereotypical gender group like boy, girl, etc.
• develop the internal sense of who they are that comes from biological traits, environmental conditions, etc.

 Hence, it could be concluded that gender identity is established in children at the age of 4 years.