Using data for 192 males and 462 females (432 whites, 97 African Americans 64 Hispanic Americans, and 61 Asian Americans) in Los Angeles County (California), this study confirmed that during adolescence, agency-related orientation predicts heightened self-esteem for males and communal orientation predicts heightened self-esteem for females at…

Masculinity (M) and Femininity (F) were related to multiple dimensions of self-concept for responses from 962 high school students. Androgyny theory predicts that F, as well as M, will contribute positively and uniquely to self-concept, but previous research has typically found that the contribution of F is nil or even negative after controlling…

Many researchers have questioned the validity of the underlying assumptions, the psychometric properties, and conceptualizations for both the older and new measures that generate two independent scores for masculinity and femininity. The assumptions of bipolarity and unidimensionality and the construct validity of existing masculinity/femininity…

Discusses two major contributions of Liben and Bigler's work: (1) introduction of new measures of sex typing; and (2) the proposal that there are two plausible ways in which gender attitudes and sex typing of self might be related. Considers the importance of context on gender salience for information processing. Asserts that Liben and Bigler's…

Responds to concerns that individual items included as stereotypes in the Occupation Activity Trait Scales (children's and adult's versions) are not highly stereotyped. Discusses future directions for research, noting that a developmental approach is critical to understanding gender differentiation establishment and that it is also important to…

Assesses beliefs of 32 male and 35 female middle-class preschool children about the frequency and intensity with which girls, boys, women, and men experience anger, sadness, and happiness. Children's beliefs are complex; they vary as a function of the target person's age and sex and of the specific emotion. (SLD)

Assessed differences in masculinity, femininity, and sex role attitudes in adolescent girls and boys, and the relation of pubertal timing to intensification of those attitudes. Found that sex differences in masculinity and sex role attitudes increased with age. Pubertal timing was unrelated to masculinity, femininity, and sex role attitudes. (BC)

Examines relationships between gender role orientation and physical health for 103 female and 42 male college students. Gender role orientation is significantly related to health-related behaviors but not to self-reported physical health. Masculine individuals do not perceive themselves as having less illness symptoms than others. (SLD)

Although research on masculinity and femininity has increased over the past decade, longitudinal studies addressing predictive elements are lacking. The Rush Medical College Longitudinal Study examines the correlation between masculinity and femininity on the one hand and adjustment, interpersonal functioning, and impairment on the other. During…

Over the past decade, gradual changes have occurred in some aspects of the social roles taken by men and women. More women with children work outside the home and some men have become very involved in caring for their children. Whether or not such changes have influenced the thinking of members of traditional families and influence parent/child…

Studied popularity and aspects of self-esteem between girls evidencing more traditional masculine characteristics and girls with more feminine characteristics. Findings from 166 girls aged 9 to 10 years old reveal girls reporting both traits and behaviors considered traditionally masculine were less popular, had lower self-esteem, and were less…

Two studies involving 135 female and 21 male undergraduates compare effects of masculinity and femininity on rater and ratee evaluations of emergent leader behavior in mixed-sex and same-sex groups. Masculinity is not associated with peer-rated leadership, but femininity is correlated with two measures (self-task and self-relationship) of…

This study examined relations between mothers' and fathers' behavior and characteristics, and individual differences in masculine and feminine activities and interests of their early school-aged children. Subjects were 57 intact families with an eldest child aged 6 to 7 years for a total of 29 boys and 28 girls. Data collection involved four…

The objective of this study is to measure achievement motivation in terms of psychological masculinity and femininity rather than in terms of biological gender. The terms, psychological masculinity and femininity, refer to sets of characteristics desirable for both sexes. Masculine characteristics include independence, self-confidence,…

Examines comparatively how 279 Mexican American, Black, and White American college freshmen in Houston, Texas (1980) perceive themselves according to masculine, feminine, and androgynous measurements. Finds social class more influential than ethnicity/race in determining sex-role behavior of women; the higher the social class, the more homogeneous…