Which of the following best describes the term 'gender labeling'?

The term 'gender labeling' is best described as a child's ability to categorize themselves as male or female. This concept is grounded in cognitive development theory, particularly in relation to how children begin to understand and identify gender during early childhood. Gender labeling typically emerges around the age of two to three years, when children start to recognize and verbally express their own gender identity and that of others.

This process involves not just recognizing physical characteristics associated with genders, but also begins the foundation for a more complex understanding of gender as they grow older. While understanding gender roles in society is important, it is a broader social concept that develops later, and cognitive development theories encompass a wider array of developmental milestones beyond just gender identity. Peer pressure can influence how children express their gender identity, but it’s not the defining characteristic of gender labeling itself. Hence, recognizing and categorizing oneself as male or female is at the core of what gender labeling entails.