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Influences of Gender as a Basic-Level Category in Person Perception on the Gender Belief System

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Abstract

The use of gender as an organizing category in social perception and its influence on the gender belief systemwere investigated. A modified version of the Role Construct Repertory Test and selected self-report questionnaires were completed by 190 college students (165 women and 25 men). All the participants used gender to organize their person schemas, and using gender in this way related positively to gender stereotyping. Both sexist gender attitudes and use of gender as an organizing category predicted gender stereotyping. Components of the gender belief system were only correlated if they were conceptually similar. The findings are congruent with gender transcendent and multifactorial gender identity theories.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Rand Afrikaans University, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Marcel Harper & Wilhelm J. Schoeman

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  1. Marcel Harper
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  2. Wilhelm J. Schoeman
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Correspondence to Marcel Harper.

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Harper, M., Schoeman, W.J. Influences of Gender as a Basic-Level Category in Person Perception on the Gender Belief System. Sex Roles 49, 517–526 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025884723841

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