The underrepresentation of women and girls in children's picture books and the use of gender stereotypes persists, as seen in a sample of 335 books published between 2010 and 2020. Previous research showed a significant lack of female representation in children's picture books and stereotyped presentation. A pilot study was conducted to establish…

Comments on the monograph reported in this issue. Stresses that the monograph illustrates the difficulty of measuring gender stereotypes; provides insight on activity preferences in middle childhood; considers the role of affect in sex typing by distinguishing affective from cognitive influences; encourages broad-based theories to account for sex…

To investigate the relationship of children's beliefs about sex differences to their own age and gender, 427 children (seven, 10, and 15 year olds) were asked to explain their beliefs. Younger children's responses displayed a biological orientation, and older children's a societal orientation, but no evidence supported a hypothesized third stage…

This study reveals significant differences in the organization of play between the sexes. The primary difference concerns the complexity of the social setting in which play occurs. (Author/AM)

Sex differences in the behavior of infants may have the potential for eliciting differential treatment from adults, regardless of whether or not adults consciously intend to encourage sex-differentiated behavior. The role of biologically-based sex differences in partially determining cognitive development is discussed. Availability information is…

Examines the conceptual basis of preschoolers' judgments regarding cross-gender behavior, taking into consideration the type of sex-role regularity and whether it is male or female sex-role stereotype. (HOD)

To examine the development of sex-role stereotyping in Malaysia, 80 children were tested with the Sex Stereotype Measurement II. Results revealed that stereotyping increases with age, that the male stereotype is more easily recognized than the female, and that boys are more familiar with the male stereotype than are girls. (KH)

Considers college students both as evolving individuals and as participants in social processes in a particular time and place. Discusses cognition, ego identity, ethics, the impact of college, cognitive and ethical development, ego identity in college, socialization, sex role development and political behavior as well as generational issues. (RH)

Explores preschoolers' expectations of adult behavior toward boys and girls, and examines systematic changes from age three to five in children's expectations of adult behavior and the extent to which children indicate acceptance or disapproval of the expected adult behavior. (Author/DB)

Reviews recent studies of change in gender-stereotyped behavior or attitudes in children. Suggests factors in susceptibility to counterstereotyping attempts including: (1) developmental level, (2) relationship between sex role cognitions and behavior, (3) degree of consistency in gender-stereotyped behavior, and (4) the role of individual…

Reviews research on the psychological implications of gender identification and ways in which Kohlberg's 1966 paper foreshadowed new developments and insights in this area of study. (Author/BB)

Describes two measures of gender salience, one assessing the use of the gender dimension in classifying new information and the other assessing its use in making affiliation choices. The developmental course of gender salience from age three to age seven and the relation between salience and sex-role development were examined. (HOD)

Examined the development of sex typing among 558 children aged 5-12 years. Several measures gathered information on sex typing, children's cognitive maturity, and children's exposure to sex-typed models at home. Found that children's knowledge of stereotypes, flexibility, and sex-typed personal preferences increased with age. Concludes that…

Psychoanalytic, social learning and cognitive-developmental theories are evaluated in terms of their usefulness in explaining sex role acquisition. A model that attempts to integrate the most significant features from each theoretical position is proposed. (Author/EB)

Examines current concerns of early childhood practitioners regarding the effects of popular toys such as Barbie dolls and Power Rangers on children's understanding of gender. Critiques traditional theories of sex role socialization and argues that feminist post-structuralist views of gender are useful in deciding if and how popular toys may be…