First through twelfth graders' beliefs concerning the social distances between people differing by race, sex, or race and sex were assessed. Sexual social distances are larger for boys than for girls, increase during pre-adolescence, and decrease during adolescence. Racial social distances are larger for blacks than for whites, and increase with age. Across grades, blacks attribute relatively greater social distance to racial than to sexual differences, whereas until high school, whites ascribe relatively greater distance to sex than race. By the third grade, children of both sexes and races believe that sexual social distance is smaller between blacks than whites, and by the fifth grade, believe there is less racial distance among females than males. Subjects at all grade levels believe social distances are largest when race and sex vary simultaneously. The results are discussed in relation to socialization theory and American acculturation patterns. (Author)