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A Latent Semantic Analysis of Gender Stereotype-Consistency and Narrowness in American English

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Abstract

Using latent semantic analysis, we examined gender stereotypes in American English by submitting over 100 masculine, neutral, and feminine role-words and trait-words to pair-wise semantic similarity comparisons with masculine (man, he, him) and feminine (woman, she, her) referents separately. We expected to find: (a) Stereotyping—roles and traits would be more semantically similar to the ostensible ‘matching’ than ‘mismatching’ gender category referent; (b) Categorical narrowness—both categories would be less semantically similar to counterstereotypical than to neutral or stereotypical characteristics; but this would be especially so for the male category, indicating its relatively greater narrowness. Results supported these hypotheses, but only among role-words. American English reflects and reinforces gender stereotypes regarding gender roles at a level beyond that recognized previously.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK

    Alison P. Lenton

  2. University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

    Constantine Sedikides

  3. Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

    Martin Bruder

Authors
  1. Alison P. Lenton
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  2. Constantine Sedikides
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  3. Martin Bruder
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alison P. Lenton.

Additional information

The research reported herein was supported by Economic and Social Research Council grant #RES-000-22-0253.

Appendix

Appendix

The feminine, neutral, and masculine role- and trait-words submitted to latent semantic analysis

 

Roles

Traits

Feminine

Beautician

Affectionate

Caregiver

Caring

Cheerleader

Cheerful

Dancer

Compassionate

Decorator

Delicate

Designer

Emotional

Dietician

Flatterable

Florist

Gentle

Hairdresser

Gossipy

Homemaker

Humble

Housekeeper

Loyal

Model

Moody

Nanny

Nagging

Nurse

Polite

Receptionist

Sensitive

Stylist

Shy

Typist

Sympathetic

Tender

Understanding

Warm

Neutral

Assistant

Adaptable

Cashier

Candid

Clerk

Childlike

Doctor

Conceited

Editor

Conscientious

Lawyer

Conventional

Poet

Earnest

Reporter

Forward

Servant

Friendly

Worker

Gullible

Happy

Helpful

Inefficient

Irrational

Jealous

Likable

Outspoken

Reliable

Ridiculous

Secretive

Sincere

Solemn

Stubborn

Tactful

Theatrical

Truthful

Unpredictable

Unsystematic

Yielding

Masculine

Architect

Aggressive

Carpenter

Ambitious

Coach

Analytical

Contractor

Arrogant

Detective

Assertive

Electrician

Athletic

Engineer

Authoritative

Farmer

Bold

Firefighter

Capable

Gambler

Charismatic

Inventor

Competitive

Machinist

Confident

Mechanic

Crude

Officer

Daring

Physicist

Decisive

Pilot

Dominant

Programmer

Forceful

Rancher

Independent

Sheriff

Individualistic

Soldier

Reckless

Unyielding

Vulgar

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Lenton, A.P., Sedikides, C. & Bruder, M. A Latent Semantic Analysis of Gender Stereotype-Consistency and Narrowness in American English. Sex Roles 60, 269–278 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-008-9534-z

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