Relationship between Adolescent Sexual Stereotypes and Working Mothers

Abstract

Using a modified Likert format, 438 (225 boys, 213 girls) eighth graders indicated their agreement or disagreement with 8 randomized stereotypic statements concerning women's role and 12 statements concerning women workers. In addition, students rated as masculine, feminine, or both a randomized list of 20 occupations. Results indicate sex differences in several stereotypic statements. The sex differences are more differentiated than results found in earlier studies. Results also confirmed the hypothesis that sexual stereotypes would be more prevalent in the younger group than in the older. Highest positive correlation (r = .26; p < .01) was between liberal attitudes toward women's role and current employment of mothers of the females. Lowest correlation (r = .15; p < .05) was between less stereotyped view of occupation and current maternal employment of the females. There was no significant correlation between liberal attitudes toward women workers and current employment of the mothers of the females.