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Many research studies have consistently found that a variety of individuals who do not stutter report stereotypical attitudes toward stuttering and people who stutter (PWS). There is less agreement regarding whether certain characteristics of listeners, such as their relative familiarity with PWS and their gender, have any effect on the attitudes they report regarding PWS. The purpose of this study was to explore whether normally fluent speakers would report negative stereotypical attitudes toward PWS and whether they perceived certain careers as less appropriate choices for PWS. In addition, the impact of the participants' familiarity with stuttering and gender were explored using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Method: One-hundred and fifty-four individuals from the general population completed a questionnaire that included both open-ended and forced-choice items. The participants' C ONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN COMMUNICATION SCIENCE AND DISORDERS • Volume 36 • 108-117 • Fall 2009 © NSSLHA 1092-5171/09/3602-0108 responses were analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Results: Findings suggest that this group of participants reported negative stereotypical attitudes toward PWS. In addition, the participants reported that stuttering had a negative impact on employment and that certain careers were not appropriate for PWS. Findings also suggest that participants' familiarity with stuttering and their gender improved their attitude toward PWS. Conclusion: The findings of this study are supportive of past research exploring stereotyping and role entrapment of PWS. Directions for future research in this area of study are discussed.

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