Psychological and physiological stress indices were taken from collegiate swimmers of both sexes. Later a scale of self-reported masculinity and femininity was administered. Males had higher systolic blood pressure but lower self-reported anxiety and hostility with the stress of competition. Differences in relative masculinity/femininity allow…

Investigated the structure of sex role self-descriptors. Factor analyzed responses of female and male undergraduates to the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Seven factors emerged: personal warmth, social dominance, autonomy, affect, masculinity-feminity, vulnerability, and responsibility. Results support a multidimensional conception of…

Identified factors that helped prevent attitudes tolerant of risky sexual behavior among inner-city, African American, preadolescent girls age 10-13 years. Survey data indicated that feminine gender role orientation, self-concept, and ethnic identity related to attitudes less tolerant of risky sexual behaviors. Masculine gender role orientation…

Presents a study examining individual differences, such as sex, gender, self-discrepancies, and self awareness. Determined how the differences affect anger and verbal aggressiveness among a sample of U.S. college students (n=445). Reports that repressing anger is explained by masculinity and public self-awareness; while expressing anger is caused…

Utilizes feminist writing on social class to investigate the interplay of ethnicity, race, and class in the production of femininities. Asserts that politically engaged cultural studies of class are important to analyzing the identifications of girls living in multi-ethnic cities. The case study of a London school highlights complexities faced by…

Analysis of 21 commission reports advocating gender equity in higher education 1971-1996 shows how dominant discourses of femininity, access, and professionalism position women as victims, outsiders to the structure and culture of the institution, and in need of professional development, with the unintended consequence of undermining gender…

Used data on a nationally representative sample of Latina, black, and white women between the ages of 18-45 years to examine the relations among embodied femininity, weight concern, and depressive symptomatology. Results confirmed different patterns of relations for each group. The effects of embodied femininity for Latinas were similar to those…

The relationship between identity and intimacy development was studied using 71 male and 71 female college students over a 5-week period using 3 theoretical models reflecting possible gender distinctions. Cross-lag panel correlation investigated the validity of the models. Evidence in support of the models is evaluated. (SLD)

Examines the effect of the content of reading material on students' perceptions of reading as masculine or feminine. Finds that during the second grade, students' views on reading change from sex-neutral to more feminine than masculine, and that the content or genre of the reading material influences this perception. (RS)

Investigated the impact of target age on gender stereotyping. College and elementary students viewed photographs of men, women, boys, and girls, rating each for masculine, feminine, and neutral personality traits. Adults also rated likelihood of masculine and feminine traits in adults versus children. Target age had important implications for…

A study that explored the gender schemata of a select cohort of 13 adolescent males found they had an androgynous sex-role identity. Most of the adolescents employed a sophisticated critical rationalism to construct their gender schemata; however, several expressed awareness of an asynchrony between their emotional and intellectual development.…

Examines how attributions of gender are influenced by whether a person self-labels, labels another, or is labeled by another as gay or lesbian. Labeling heightened the labeler's gender-typical attributions and being labeled produced the reverse pattern. Gay self-labeling resulted in intermediate ratings, whereas lesbian self-labeling dramatically…

Employed a measure of recalled childhood gender nonconformity to examine gender role behaviors in association with body dissatisfaction among ethnically diverse, homosexual and heterosexual, predominantly college-aged males. Gay males reported more body dissatisfaction and recalled more childhood gender atypical behaviors. Group differences in…

Examines whether feminine media stars idolized by adolescent girls provide a safe target of romantic love before girls start dating and become sexually active. Surveys of seventh and ninth grade Israeli girls indicate that idolizing feminine stars may be an intermediate step in a sequence that starts with idolizing females and continues to the…

Examined body dissatisfaction among predominantly white college students classified as masculine-typed, feminine-typed, androgynous, or undifferentiated. Women had much more body dissatisfaction than men. Women's self-described bodies differed significantly from their ideal bodies. No relationship existed between gender type and absolute size of…