The development of other-gender interactions: Behavioral, biological, cognitive, and contextual influences

In the following chapter, we examine several factors related to same-and other-gender interactions from childhood through adolescence. In general, childhood is marked by a period of segregation into same-gender groups followed by a gradual period of integration into mixed-gender groups which begins in adolescence. However, as we highlight, there are many factors (e.g., pubertal development, social cognitions, social contexts) that contribute to individual variations in the transition from same-gender to mixed-gender groups. Drawing from the work of several prominent feminist scholars, we take a perspective that focuses on individual differences beyond a limited gender difference paradigm.