This study explored the beliefs of early childhood educators about a child's current behavior and potential adult adjustment based on a description of the child's gender and play interests. There were 451 early childhood educators from a US sample who, after reading a brief vignette describing a child's play and behavior, responded to questions…

Often certain types of toys are considered more appropriate either for boys or for girls to play with. Therapists often use toys to engage children in intervention activities to promote skill development. This study investigated the gender stereotype perspectives of children's toys held by adults who were and were not parents. Fifty-two…

To understand the career experiences of adult transsexual women, we conducted a qualitative study on a sample of 9 predominately White male-to-female (MTF) transsexuals who were mostly middle-aged (M = 33.8, SD = 15.4) and had been on hormone therapy for an average of 20.7 months (SD = 22.5). Results of the interview data highlighted participants'…

In this paper, we focus on gendered themes promulgated in three books written in diary cartoon form. Although written for different audiences, each of these books constructs gender norms in similar ways. They promote heteronormative gender roles for boys and girls by endorsing traditional femininities and hegemonic masculinities through the…

Men who have sex with men (MSM) account for more than half of all new cases of HIV infection in the United States. Yet, many MSM are unaware of their HIV serostatus. Consistent with research indicating that gender role conformity impacts health behaviors, this study examined how masculine norms may influence HIV testing among MSM in the United…

According to previous research, achieving women display nontraditional personality traits and are influenced by affiliative motives. To examine the needs exhibited by professional women who have made significant achievements, 23 career women (physicians, attorneys, veterinarians, business women, politicians, and artists) completed the Edwards…

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)

In the first of two studies, the number of feminine women and androgynous men in the oldest age category was found to increase. This suggests that each gender may become more feminine with age. In the second study, a majority of people remained in the same gender-role category over a 10-year period. (BC)

Female college students (n=194) completed the Bem Sex Role Inventory and a 12-item index of tomboyism. The hypothesis that childhood tomboyism would be positively related to adult androgyny was not supported, but the hypothesis that tomboyism would be related to adult masculinity was. (SLD)

Explored the relationships among childhood activities, masculine and feminine characteristics, and career choices among career women and homemakers. Results indicated that childhood participation in sex-typed activities is associated with the adult personality characteristics of masculinity and femininity and adult role choices. (Author/BL)

The development of the modern myth of the American family and television attitudes toward men, masculinity, and fathers are explored. (JJD)

Tests the prediction that the combination of a Type A behavioral style and a sex role orientation low in masculinity would be associated with low self-esteem, high social anxiety, and depression, and that these tendencies would be more pronounced among women than among men. (Author/SS)

Critiques works from "Journal of Mental Health Counseling" special issue on mental health counseling for men. Notes Kelly and Hall's confusion of terms regarding biological sex and masculine gender roles. Contends that Heesacker and Prichard presented dualistic statements and pigeonholed men. Advocates for greater knowledge of gender-related…

A study of masculinity and femininity characteristics and levels of self-esteem of female graduate nursing students found that students in high masculine/low feminine and high masculine/high feminine categories had higher self-esteem than students in low masculine/low feminine and low masculine/high feminine categories. (Author/MJL)

Challenges previous studies concluding that masculinity and femininity fluctuate as a function of the individual's family life stage. Findings from 582 Australian survey respondents showed that involvement in work and study has a greater impact on masculinity and femininity scores than does the presence of children. (Author/CB)