Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Stereotyping of sex role in preschoolers in relation to age, family structure, and parental sexism

  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Forty-eight boys and 48 girls aged between 32 and 64 months were tested for stereotyping of sex role using a toy-preference technique. Scores for overt and covert measures of sexism and awareness of the dimension of sex-role stereotyping were also obtained from both parents of each child, as well as information on the target child's siblings. Analysis indicated the developmental nature of stereotyping of sex role in both boys and girls and the surprising finding that older siblings are much more important in the development of such stereotyping than are sexist parents. The influence of the child upon parental attitudes is also apparent. These findings and their interrelationships are discussed, suggesting new directions for research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barry, R. J., & Barry, A. Stereotyping of sex roles in preschool kindergarten children. Psychological Reports, 1976, 38, 948–950.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkowitz, L. A survey of social psychology. Hinsdale, Ill.: Dryden Press, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brabant, S. Sex role stereotyping in the Sunday comics. Sex Roles, 1976, 2, 331–337.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flerx, V. C., Fidler, D. S., & Rogers, R. W. Sex role stereotypes: Developmental aspects and early intervention. Child Development, 1976, 47, 998–1007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, M. L. Ideal sex roles for children and acceptance of variation from stereotypic sex roles. Adolescence, 1977, XII, 89–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • McArthur, L. Z., & Eisen, S. V. Television and sex-role stereotyping. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 1976, 6, 329–351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, E. The learning of sex roles through toys and books. Young Children, 1973, 28, 226–231.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, University of New South Wales, 2033, Kensington, Australia

    Robert J. Barry

Authors
  1. Robert J. Barry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

The author wishes to thank Ann Barry, Director of the Glen Kindergarten, for her assistance in developing the materials used here and her extensive testing of the children included in this study. My thanks are also due to Professor D. J. Drinkwater and Drs. R. Boyd, S. Phillips, and J. Sweller for their assistance in grading the stereotyped toy illustrations used in testing the children.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Barry, R.J. Stereotyping of sex role in preschoolers in relation to age, family structure, and parental sexism. Sex Roles 6, 795–806 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287235

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287235

Keywords

Search

Navigation