THE STRUCTURE OF THE GENDER CULTURE OF JUNIOR SCHOOLCHILDREN

Abstract

Abstract. The article analyzes the process of formation of gender culture in elementary school age; elicits the features of the structure of gender culture of different age groups; studies the mutual relations between girls and boys of this age; determines the criteria of cognitive, emotional and behavioral components of gender culture and distinguishes three levels of formation of gender culture in elementary school students. Particular attention is paid to the process of formation of gender culture, predefined by many reasons, including acceleration, poor awareness of minors in relation to sexual development, leveling of moral values etc. There are also contradictions between the requirements in gender education and the failure of a large number of social institutions to perform educational functions. Thus, the problem of formation of the personality’s gender culture is extremely important today. The formation of the gender culture of junior schoolchildren in elementary school is regarded as a process of harmonizing gender relations between girls and boys as the representatives of the male and female components of society, that are equal in the possibilities of self-realization, self-expression, self-assertion, fulfillment of social and educational roles, regardless of various physiological, psychological and individual peculiarities. The relevance of our research is primarily due to the potential of secondary schools for the gender education of elementary school students and their inadequate use in the educational process. Consequently, the structure of the gender culture of junior schoolchildren is represented by three components: cognitive, the criteria of which are the formed gender knowledge and awareness; emotional and value, the criterion of which reflects the formed value relation to its own and the opposite sex; behavioral, the criteria of which are skills and abilities to adhere to gender equality and responsiveness in relationships. Based on the developed criteria and their indicators, three levels (high, average, low) of the gender culture of younger students have been determined. Summing up, we note that the defined criteria, indicators and levels of their formation make it possible to diagnose the formation of a gender culture of junior pupils. Further research is required regarding the study of pedagogical technologies and methods of formation of gender culture in the educational process of elementary school.