What age are children treated differently because of their gender?

Children often begin to be treated differently based on their gender as early as preschool age, around 3 to 5 years old. At this stage, societal norms and expectations can influence how adults and peers interact with them, including the types of toys they are given, the activities they are encouraged to pursue, and the behavioral expectations placed upon them. These gendered treatments can become more pronounced as children enter elementary school, where social dynamics and peer influences further reinforce gender stereotypes.