Gender Stereotypes

This article is about the flexibility of Gender Stereotyping during adolescence. Past research has stated that as children grow older gender stereotyping becomes less flexible. Thomas Alfieri, Diane Ruble, and E. Torry Higgins conducted a study using two school districts in New York City to determine the flexibility of gender stereotyping among adolescent kids. The kids were in the grades 4-11, mostly white, and came from families with an average income of $52-56,000. The purpose of the study was to not only discover the flexibility of gender stereotyping, but also to try and pin point when it occurs. The study was conducted to test three hypothesizes: 1- differentiation in gender beliefs would decrease with age into early adolescence but then increase again during late adolescence; 2- the timing of these changes would be affected by entry into junior high school; and 3- adolescents may show a temporary increase in gender flexibility when they first enter junior high school.

Of the two districts chosen for the research, one transitioned to Jr High in the 7th grade, while the other transitioned in the 8th grade. One high school began in 9th grade and continued to 12th. The other ranged from grades 10-12th. During the study the students were given 12 terms. Half were masculine and half were feminine. They were then asked to categorize them into male, female, or both. Once this was done, the students were asked to take the “both” terms and re-categorize them into only male or female sections. Students were tested in additional years as a follow up to see if the flexibility changed. In both districts gender stereotype flexibility was increased during the first year of junior high. It was also discovered that boys had less flexibility than girls. The results of the students tested in later years showed that flexibility did decrease as the students aged.

The conclusion of the study was the above mentioned hypothesis was in fact proven. Gender...