Gendered Behaviors in Adolescence

Adolescence (from the Latin word adolescere, meaning “to grow up”) is a period of significant physical and psychological human growth that marks the transition between childhood and adulthood. Typically occurring between the ages of 10 to 19 years, adolescence is a time of self-discovery, disorientation, and independence. It is also marked by the exploration of one’s identity in the context of ethnicity/race, gender, and sexual orientation. Recent clinical and media attention has highlighted the role of adolescent identity formation as it relates to one’s gender identity. This review highlights the cognitive, psychological, and [Page 793]emotional factors that influence gendered behavior in adolescence.