Describes a survey of toy catalogs and packages, which focused on stereotypes in depictions of children playing with toys. Reports that toys that were previously rated by students as strongly or moderately sex-typed were generally shown with a child of the "appropriate" sex. (KH)

A sample of children (grades 2-3) was provided with information about the abilities of two children at a specific activity and asked to predict their abilities at a second related activity. The respondents' sex stereotypes interfered with their capacity to make logical inferences about the stimulus children's abilities at the second activity. (KH)

Use of sex-typed clothing in the natural setting was both common and effective as a cue for strangers. Infants not dressed in sex-typed clothes were not identifiable by sex. The near universality of sex-typed clothing contrasted with the low salience it displayed in parents' answers. (Author/GC)

Participant observation found that the barbershop studies perpetuated sex-role stereotypes, encouraged sexist attitudes toward women and, in general, was a sex-role socialization setting that promoted sex-role inequality. (GC)

Analysis of prime-time television portrayals of nurses and physicians (1950-80) shows extreme levels of both sexual and occupational stereotyping. TV nurses are 99 percent female; TV physicians are 95 percent male. The TV image of female professional nurses is of total dependence on and subservience to male physicians. (Author/CMG)

At-home observation of 40 sibling dyads was conducted to describe sex-role characteristics of school-aged same-sex and cross-sex siblings. Male dyads interacted less than other sibling groups, while older sisters in female or male-female dyads engaged in the most teaching and managing. Older sister dyads exhibited the greatest role asymmetrics.…

Examined the attitudes of a general population toward female participation in sports. Found that, in general, participation in sports neither detracted from nor enhanced perceived femininity; further, most parents wanted their daughters to play basketball. (Author/GC)

In a study of differences between perceptions of men's and women's language, undergraduates read short stories with speakers using seven categories of "male" and "female" language. Among the findings were that subjects rated males who spoke women's language as homosexual and tended to rate females who spoke men's language as uppity. (KH)

A large sample of adults rated a videotape of the activities of an infant whose gender was labeled differently with different subject groups. Labeling the infant "male" resulted in significantly more activities being rated masculine than feminine, whereas the converse was true when the infant was labeled "female." (KH)

Presents results of two studies supporting the hypothesis that attribution of more aggression to boys may be a function of observer bias. Reports that some forms of instruction eliminate sex-typed biases while others yield significant biases. Discusses implications pertaining to the socialization of aggression and to research on sex differences in…

Socialization messages about women's work options in "established" and "new" women's magazines were analyzed. Findings suggest that established magazines are more likely to profile women in traditional occupations and that women profiled in the new magazines are more likely to feel more responsible and powerful at work. (KH)

Presents research which replicated a 1974 analysis of sex role stereotyping in family-oriented Sunday comics. Females continue to appear less frequently and to remain within the home more often than males. They also continue to be portrayed in stereotypical roles. (KH)

A test for gender discrimination in response to familiar labels was developed and given to 17- to 42-month-old children. There were no sex differences in performance, but among the youngest children, more boys than girls were unable to perform the discrimination task. The tests measure the ability of children to gender-label. (KH)

Examines pictorial representations of men, women, boys, and girls in popular computer magazines through content analysis. Results show (1) many stereotypic portrayals and (2) women overrepresented as clerical workers and sex objects and in passive roles vis-a-vis computers. Gives observations regarding effects of stereotypes on females. (Author/SA)

Male and female high school students and adults (n=210) completed a questionnaire seeking preference responses to 12 male and 12 female traditional activities. Boys' activities were more destereotyped than girls'--but by females, not males. The unique finding was that self-described tomboys do not substitute boys' activities for girls'. (KH)