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The structure and content of the male gender role stereotype: An exploration of subtypes

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Abstract

Stereotypic categorization schemas pertaining to the male gender role are examined in two related studies. Study I provides preliminary evidence for four stereotypic categories and their attributes: Businessman, Athlete, Family Man, and Loser. When compared to a similar study on female stereotypes, male stereotypes appear more weakly held. Study II expanded the populations sampled, employing a hierarchical cluster analysis to analyze responses to a card sorting task using attributes from Study I. Differences were found between the three, primarily Caucasian, subject groups. Results support a social cognitive orientation to understanding stereotypes, which suggests that broad categories, such as “men” or “women,” do not capture the commonly made distinctions within these groups, which are more accurately conceptualized as subtypes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, 55 Lake Avenue North, 01655, Worcester, MA

    Gwenyth H. Edwards

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  1. Gwenyth H. Edwards
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The author would like to thank Albert Lott, who served as the director of the research as well as the “expert judge,” and Mark Babich, coresearcher for Study I.

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Edwards, G.H. The structure and content of the male gender role stereotype: An exploration of subtypes. Sex Roles 27, 533–551 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00290008

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