Abstract
Parents and child care workers were asked to rate 30 preschool child behaviors according to the cultural stereotypes concerning sex-typed behavior and actual behavioral differences between boys and girls. Both agreed on cultural stereotypes, with males rating more behaviors stereotyped than females. The behavioral ratings and cultural stereotypes of parents showed more agreement than those of child care workers. Parents overestimated sex differences in behavior, while child care workers underestimated them.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fagot, B. I. Sex-related stereotyping of toddlers' behaviors. Developmental Psychology, 1973, 9, 429.
Fagot, B. I. Consequences of moderate cross-gender behavior in preschool children. Child Development, 1977, 48, 902–907.
Fagot, B. I. The influence of sex of child on parental reaction to toddler behaviors. Child Development, 1978, 49, 459–465.
Fagot, B. I., & Patterson, G. R. An in vivo analysis of reinforcing contingencies for sex role behaviors in the preschool child. Developmental Psychology, 1969, 1, 563–568.
Masters, J. C., & Wilkerson, A. Consensual and discriminative stereotypes of sex type judgments by parents and children. Child Development, 1976, 47, 208–217.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was supported by a grant from the Office of Scientific and Scholarly Research, Graduate School, University of Oregon.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fagot, B.I. Stereotypes versus behavioral judgments of sex differences in young children. Sex Roles 7, 1093–1096 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287586
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287586