Teachers View People: Sex-Role Stereotyping

Abstract

175 women and 80 men educators completed the Gough Adjective Check List identifying each word as being stereotypically associated with males, with females, or with both. Only those adjectives on which at least 70% of all educators agreed were assigned by society either to males (N = 74) or to females (N = 67) were used in eight of the check list scales. Men and women educators saw males as being perceived as significantly more achievement oriented, autonomous, and aggressive and females as being seen as significantly more deferent. No significant differences in educators' views of society's perception of males and females were found regarding personal adjustment, intraception, and favorable and unfavorable characteristics. The relationship between culturally stereotyped characteristics identified by educators as being assigned to males and females and the characteristics associated with performance in school are discussed.