Our study tests in newborns the perceptual bias described in 1979 by Hildebrandt and Fitzgerald in recognizing the sex of infants, using videorecords instead of still photographs. Analysis showed a tendency for young adults to perceive newborn infants as male immediately after birth, and this perceptual bias diminished if the babies smile.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BellN., & CarverW. (1980) A revaluation of gender label effects: expectant mothers' responses to infants. Child Development, 51, 925–927.
2.
BurnhamD. K., & HarrisM. B. (1992) Effects of real gender and labeled gender on adults' perceptions of infants. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 153, 165–183.
3.
CondryJ., & CondryS. (1976) Sex differences: a study of eye of the beholder. Child Development, 47, 812–819.
4.
DowdyS., & WeardenS. (1983) Statistics for research. Wiley. Pp. 97–108.
5.
HildebrandtK. A., & FitzgeraldH. E. (1979a) Adult perceptions of infant sex and cuteness. Sex Roles, 5, 471–481.
6.
HildebrandtK. A., & FitzgeraldH. E. (1979b) Gender bias in observer's perception of infants' sex: it's a boy most of the time. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 45, 472–474.
7.
LeoneC., & RobertsonK. (1989) Some effects of sex-linked clothing and gender schema on the stereotyping of infants. The Journal of Social Psychology, 129, 609–619.
8.
RothbartD., & MaccobyE. E. (1966) Parents' differential reactions to sons and daughters. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 4, 237–243.
