Investigated how children (ages 4 to 9) perceive stereotypes in television programs. Found that they use their existing knowledge of traditional sex roles to account for activities both witnessed and presupposed. Concludes that children make informed judgments about television sex roles by referring to their developing scripts of social life. (PD)

Intended for students in the social sciences, this book assembles and evaluates the main findings of recent work on television and sex role acquisition, points out gaps and limitations in present inquiry, and sketches a framework around which future research might usefully address some of the remaining questions. The seven chapter topics are as…

The frequencies of specific types of verbal attractiveness stereotypes portrayed on television commercials and regular programs were determined in two studies. In the first, the 4,294 commercials aired between 8 and 10 p.m. on the 3 major networks were observed during a 7-day period in the spring of 1982. Statements related to attractiveness were…

This paper places research findings within a social learning framework to demonstrate that television influences the development of sex typing in children. First, the presence of sex-typed content in television programming and advertising is documented. Then, the nature of children's attention to and comprehension of televised messages is…

A study compared the two television series, "The Lone Ranger" and "The Equalizer" to see whether the protagonists conform to the American archetype of the justice hero--defined as the hero who deals with crime in society. A formula analysis of the two television texts reveals that both heroes are male, scrupulous, independent,…

Content analysis of American television commercials since 1971 reveals several differences between the portrayal of men and women, but many of the gaps seem to be narrowing. The findings are discussed in terms of the potential effects of exposure to stereotyped depictions on viewers' sex role attitudes. (Author/BJV)

Findings from analysis of television coverage of women in sport during the 1970's and early 1980's suggested that coverage was considerably less than for men's televised sport, and that coverage of women athletes was characterized by stereotypical images and limited information. Trends reported by researchers who examined the status of women…

This second article in a series on the relationship between television and children summarizes shortcomings of studies of effects based on traditional psychology. Other approaches to study of television and children using sociological ideas are explored, focusing on what children do to, and with, television as active viewers. (MBR)

Describes a study that investigated sex-role stereotyping of occupational roles and the affective behaviors of music-video characters in a random sample of 182 MTV (Music Television) music videos in 1987. Race differences are also examined, and results are reported that suggest that the mass media perpetuates stereotypes. (30 references) (LRW)

This paper examines the dominant genre of the last American television season--the action/adventure/law enforcement show--and discusses differences between this genre and television shows in the 1950s to 1970s. Today's programs are described in terms of the similarities they exhibit with the strategies of the New Right and the apparent…

Television teaches children gender-specific behaviors, attitudes, characteristics, and personality traits. Research indicates that by observing male and female characters on television, children learn to label certain characteristics and behaviors as masculine or feminine and to assign traditional sex-role stereotypes to careers. Content studies…

Children learn sex-appropriate behavior through the influences of parents, teachers and the media. This study examined the most popular medium, television, and in particular television cartoons and their influence on children's attitudes toward science and technology. The amount and types of science and technology, along with the types of…

This study examined differential perceptions of men and women as they appear on television (symbolic reality) and in real life (social reality). The marked tendency of television viewers to regard symbolic reality as more stereotypic than social reality for most traits, roles, and occupations was especially true for heavier viewers. (Author/MBR)

Examines how postwar women's magazines introduced television to the American housewife. Reveals the way television was imbricated in the gendered division of labor and leisure at home by exploring how the magazines deliberated on the problems television posed for women's domestic chores and the efficient functioning of the household. (KEH)

In this collection of papers, 10 social researchers and mental health specialists review and assess the state of the art in relevant areas of their expertise to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive account of the role of television as a teacher. An overview of issues, findings, and recommendations by Elizabeth J. Roberts is followed by nine…