Given women's communally oriented socialization and social pressures to find romantic partners, many heterosexual women may derive self-worth from having romantic relationships (relationship contingency). Across two studies, we explored whether relationship contingency heightens women's body shame. Studies 1A and 1B found that relationship…

Though feminism was not significantly related to motivation for older subjects of either sex, in this and an earlier investigation of parenthood motivation psychological variables accounted for greater variance in female motivation than did demographic variables. However, demographic variables alone accounted for differences in male motivation.…

Female undergraduates (N = 268) completed a questionnaire which included the Bem Sex Role Inventory and information about their mother's employment. Employed mothers who worked outside the home were found to have influenced the development of androgynous self concepts in their daughters. (Author)

Assessed beliefs about male and female homosexuals and heterosexuals. Showed that people subscribed to an implicit inversion theory wherein male homosexuals were believed to be similar to female heterosexuals, and female homosexuals to male heterosexuals. These results support a bipolar model of gender stereotyping, in which masculinity and…

The present study addressed the question of whether persons' implicit personality theories include the notion that the possession of masculine and feminine characteristics tend to preclude each other so that the two clusters of attributes are perceived to be negatively correlated. The results confirm the hypothesis. (Author)

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and a 60-item structured interview questionnaire were administered to 25 white single homosexually-oriented women and 25 white single heterosexually-oriented women to investigate psychological adjustment and current life styles. Differences between groups were found only on items directly…

The relationship of employment status to symptoms was studied in 40 graduates of an Eastern woman's college who were in their late fifties. Women employed full-time were found to have significantly lower symptom scores than women not employed outside the home, with women employed part-time occupying an intermediate position. (Author)

Notes overrepresentation of Hispanics among persons with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and considers factors in designing AIDS prevention programs in Hispanic communities. Discusses characteristics of AIDS epidemic among Hispanics, demographic and psychological characteristics of Hispanic women and their relevance to AIDS prevention…

Male and female subjects studied photographs of females who differed in somatic appearance and read information about traits. Subjects estimated the probability that the stimulus person possessed other gender-related traits and engaged in gender-related behaviors. Results support a multiple-component construction of stereotypes, with physical…

Examines status and gender role explanations of the tendency for women to conform more than men in group pressure settings. Analysis of age and sex differences revealed that older females were significantly more conforming than older males when under surveillance and when subjects formed impressions of group members' likability. Among younger…

Bem's Sex Role Inventory (Bem, 1974) was employed to categorize 101 older adults into masculine, feminine, androgynous, and undifferentiated sex role orientations. Relationships among these sex role orientations and cognitive flexibility and life satisfaction were explored. No significant relationships were found. Methodological considerations are…

Due to faulty methodology no general statements can be made about psychosocial factors for women receiving illegal abortions. Women receiving therapeutic abortions experienced favorable psychological consequences more often than negative consequences. New abortion patients are mostly young, unmarried women who are not in a social position to care…

Investigated the influences of gender and individual differences in psychological masculinity and femininity on the achievement and interpersonal strivings, abilities, and self-concepts of 176 college students. Results indicated that psychological masculinity and femininity are better predictors of strivings and self-concepts in the achievement…

Used slides of masculine and feminine phrases controlled for social desirability, sex-linked content, syllable length, and negative semantic construction to evaluate schematic processing on the dimensions of masculinity and femininity. Subjects were categorized as masculine, feminine, androgynous, and undifferentiated. Results suggest that…

University students presented with a description of a stimulus person whose title of address was varied (Ms., Mrs., Miss, or Mr.) conveyed their impressions on semantic differential ratings and life outcome ratings. Found women who preferred the title Ms. appeared more achievement oriented, socially assertive, and dynamic, but less interpersonally…