Biography

As a developmental psychologist and gender researcher, I study various aspects of human development with an emphasis on gender, based on theories involving socialization, cognitive development, hormones and genes. What fascinates me most is how socio-experiential factors magnify small inborn gender differences and how much the two genders have been misunderstood. I have researched causes of behavioral masculinization in females with a disorder of sex development, as well as the development and causes of preferences for sex-typed color and toy preferences in typically-developing children. In the latter study, I also explored whether reversing the sex-typicality of colors of sex-typed toys could lead to more flexible play patterns in boys and girls. Currently, I am conceptualizing ways to help females catch up with males on visuo-spatial abilities through early experiences, as well as media portrayal of gender differences and its effect on parenting and education practices.