Diferencias por sexo y edad en la interiorización de los estereotipos de género en la adolescencia temprana y media

Introduction: Gender understood as a social construction determines the categorization of own roles attributed by society to men and women. Adolescence is a critical period in the formation of gender identity, as in the development and consolidation of gender stereotypes and roles. Method: The aim of the study is to analyze gender and age differences in gender stereotypes in early adolescence (11-13 years) and medium adolescence (14-16 years). The sample was com- posed of 880 adolescents from Secondary Education Centers in Aragon (Spain), of which 48.4% were men and 51.6% were women, with a mean age of 13.7 years old. Gender Stereotypes was evaluated by the Gender Stereotypes Scale (Colas & Villaciervos, 2007). Using Levene's test and Cohen's d, differences were tested by sex for each variable of study and between the 1 st ESO and 4th ESO for both sexes. Results: The results show that there are significant differences in the internalization of gender stereotypes by sex and age being critical the transition to middle adolescence. In the general scale, the presence of stereotypes is greater in men than in women. Analyzed by subtypes, there is a greater presence in men with a large effect size (Cohen's d) in the subtypes Corporal, Competen- cial and Affective in 4th ESO; with intermediate effect size in Competencial in 3rd ESO, Affective in 2nd and 3rd ESO, and Social Responsibility in 4th ESO; and with small effect size in Social Re- sponsibility in 3rd ESO. On the other hand, in women there is only a greater presence of stereo- types in 1st ESO with intermediate effect size in the Emotional subtype, and small in Social Be- havior. Moreover, there is a differential evolution in the presence of gender stereotypes by sex tending to decrease in women, and to increase in men. Discussion or Conclusion: Psychological, educational and social repercussions are discussed. In conclusion, guidance is provided on the need for age-adjusted preventive interventions including gender perspective.