Gender conformity starts young – and boys and girls fall in line in different ways

Children learn what it means to be a woman or a man early on. How they respond to threats to how well they conform to gender stereotypes changes with age.

By: Adam Stanaland, University of Richmond and Andrea Vial, New York University Abu Dhabi, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 19, 2026

Words: 1,132

Last Updated: 1 day, 18 hours ago

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By Adam Stanaland, University of Richmond and Andrea Vial, New York University Abu Dhabi

Many people have felt the subtle pressure to be “man enough” or “woman enough” in the eyes of others. And research has shown this pressure can have personal and social consequences.

When men feel their manhood is challenged, they can respond with compensatory aggression and other harmful behaviors. When women step outside stereotypical femininity – or even just consider doing so …

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