Subjects classified into one of five sex-role endorsement categories were tested for competitive trait anxiety. Results showed "masculine" males less anxious than other subjects, "feminine" males more anxious, and no significant differences among female groups. (CMG)

Parents of firstborn male and female infants completed questionnaires concerning their perceptions of their infants. One question focused on how important it was for their children to become either very masculine or very feminine. It was predicted that the less parents stressed the importance of gender appropriateness, the less they would view…

In a survey of 508 undergraduates, males reported significantly lower levels of emotional intimacy in same-sex friendship than females. Masculinity, defined in terms of "instrumental" qualities, had little effect on the degree of reported intimacy, while femininity, defined in terms of "expressive" qualities, was positively…

The Gough Femininity Scale was administered to undergraduates at an urban community college over an 11-year period. Means for male and female students remained relatively the same, which may suggest that although sexual behaviors have changed, psychological attitudes and traits have not. (CJM)

Examines the relationships among gender, gender identity, and coping in late adolescents. Females endorsed greater use of emotion-focused coping strategies than males. Late adolescents who were high in masculinity endorsed higher levels of problem-focused coping strategies. Overall, gender identity made an important and independent contribution to…

In this study, androgynous and masculine individuals reported less fear of success than feminine or undifferentiated individuals, and fear of success was related more to absence of masculine traits than presence of feminine ones. Only certain components of masculinity were unrelated to fear of success. (CMG)

Examined relationship between sex-role orientation and willingness to confront existential issues in undergraduate students (N=88). Results indicated masculine men and feminine women reported the least willingness to confront existential issues; androgynous men were most receptive to facing existential issues. (Author/ABL)

Surveyed male and female adults to test several hypotheses about the relationship between sex, gender, personality, and social support. Overall, gender, but not sex, significantly correlated with patterns of social support. Femininity in both sexes associated with seeking and receiving emotional support, and with seeking and receiving support from…

Distinctions between males and females arise as a result of a complex developmental process involving biological, psychological, and sociological forces. Much research on male gender identity development has spurred from the increased interest in the etiology of homosexuality over the last two decades. Political, religious, and moral issues often…

Administered Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and Bem Sex Role Inventory to 194 adults. Found androgyny scale emphasizing masculinity was most predictive of self-esteem, due to strong correlation found between masculinity and self-esteem. Found no effects due to femininity, interaction of femininity and masculinity, or sex. (Author/NB)

A study was undertaken to compare the relationship of the masculinity/femininity scale scores with age, sex, and acceptance of sex role stereotyping in 56 behaviorally disordered and 56 nonhandicapped adolescents (13 and 15 year olds). (PHR)

Tested the hypothesis that adult readers would identify with story characters who display a similar gender role orientation to themselves. Findings indicate an interaction between reader's gender role and character's gender role behavior. Davis's (1983) Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Empathic Concern subscale) significantly predicted…

Explored the roles of genes and environment in masculinity and femininity during pre- and early adolescence in 70 twins of 8-14 years. Results revealed significant genetic influences in all measures. Environmental influences were specific to each individual and not shared by members of the same twin pair. (RJC)

Content analysis of children's Halloween costumes explored how children's fantasy dress reproduces and reiterates conventional gender messages. Both male and female costumes contained high proportions of heroes. Feminine costumes were clustered in a narrow range depicting traditional femininity, with higher proportions of animals and foodstuffs.…

Three studies explore similarities between attachment style typologies and sex role typologies. Both are defined by pairs of dimensions: self model and other model (attachment styles); masculinity, or agency, and femininity, or communion (sex role orientations). Discusses results. (KW)