Analysis of children's letters to Santa Claus indicated that: (1) girls requested more toys than boys; (2) children requested neutral toys more often than sex-typed toys; (3) girls were more likely to ask for neutral toys, while boys often asked for neutral or masculine toys; and (4) children preferred sex appropriate to sex inappropriate toys.…

Preschool children exhibited less curiosity about and less frequent recall of unfamiliar objects when the objects were labeled for the opposite sex than when they were labeled either for their own or for both sexes. (Author/MJL)

To investigate sex-stereotyping associated with computer use, a study was made of effects of gender and age on preschool children's involvement with computers during a school period allowing children to choose from among five alternative activities. A group of 16 boys and 16 girls was divided by age, with the resulting categories consisting of 17…

Of four stories, preschool girls liked one with a female character and feminine activity best, and one with a male character and masculine activity least. The reverse was true for boys. Measures taken a day later showed that children recalled more about stories they had liked least the day before. (Author/MJL)

This study was designed to investigate male and female interest in babies at middle childhood and adolescence. A total of 64 middle class subjects (half 8- to 9-years-olds, half 14- to 15-year-olds) were observed individually in a 6-minute waiting room situation with an unfamiliar 6- to 10-month-old baby and mother (confederate). While the subject…

Examined the effect of observation of gender-related information in the peer group on preschoolers' attention to toys that were not clearly delineated as appropriate for one sex or the other. Contemporaneous peer involvement was significantly associated with children's toy adoption, but cumulative peer involvement was not. (Author/BB)

A two-part study investigated female college students' preferences for stereotyped or nonstereotyped role models and the relationship of such preferences to the choice of traditional versus nontraditional careers. A total of 211 women students from a mid-Atlantic state university (all the enrolled women) as well as a stratified-by-college…

Investigated sex differences in preschoolers' computer interest and computer competence. There was little evidence for greater male interest and competence; in fact, there were no sex differences in computer competence. Boys viewed the computer as male-oriented, and girls viewed it as female-oriented. (GLR)

Examined whether 6- and 11-year-olds' beliefs about job status and job interests are affected by gendered nature of jobs. Found that children gave higher status ratings to masculine jobs and expressed greater interest in jobs culturally associated with their own sex. Older children rated novel jobs portrayed with males as having higher status than…

Presents results of study of 32 children (under five and over five) enrolled in preschool program in midwestern university which investigated when children should be introduced to computers and whether or not computer is perceived as sex-stereotyped activity by young children. Background, procedures, and results are discussed. Twenty-one sources…

This study investigated children's preference and comprehension responses to stories in which both male and female main characters were represented in traditional and nontraditional roles, and stories in which only the opposite sex main characters were portrayed in those roles. A total of 218 girls and 169 boys from grades five and six (all with…