GENDER AND SELF IN CHILDRENS AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NARRATIVES

In this study, we examined relations among gender, self-concept and ch ildren's autobiographical narratives. Twenty-two white middle-class ch ildren 8 years of age (50% female) were administered the Children's Se lf-View Questionnaire (CSVQ). In addition, children were asked to reca ll a specific experience associated with each of the nine self-concept dimensions assessed by the CSVQ, including Achievement, Alienation, a nd Social Closeness. Consistent with previous research with adults, gi rl's autobiographical narratives were longer, more coherent and more d etailed than were boys' narratives. Girls were also more likely to pla ce their autobiographical narratives in a social context, to refer to more affiliative themes, and to mention more people and more emotions than were boys. In all these ways, girls' narratives were more sociall y contexted and relational than were those of boys. However, no relati ons were found between specific dimensions of self-understanding and c hildren's autobiographical narratives. Theoretical implications of the se findings are discussed. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.