Abstract
To examine the development of sex trait stereotypes in Malaysia, 40 5-year-old and 40 8-year-old children were tested with the Sex Stereotype Measurement II. Data were subjected to an item-level analysis, a 2×2×2 mixed design analysis of variance, and cross-cultural comparisons. Results revealed that (1) stereotyping increases with age (p⩽.005), (2) male traits are identified more correctly than female traits (p⩽.005), and (3) boys are more familiar with the male stereotype than are girls (p⩽.025). Cross-cultural comparisons indicate that, relative to 23 other countries, Malaysian 5 year olds produce high stereotype scores but that data from 8 year olds fall more within the median range. The results are interpreted in terms of cognitive development and socialization patterns in Malaysia's multiracial developing society.
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Ward, C. Sex trait stereotypes in Malaysian children. Sex Roles 12, 35–45 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288035
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288035