Development of Story Characters in Gender-Stereotypic and -Nonstereotypic Occupational Roles

Abstract

This research examined the creative writing responses of 140 third- and sixth-grade boy and girl writers to story characters cast in either stereotypic (male mechanic and female nurse) or nonstereotypic (female mechanic and male nurse) occupational roles. The 560 stories were examined for maintenance of character in assigned occupational role, development of character along gender-stereotypic and -nonstereotypic lines, and evidence of gender change in the lead character. Results suggested that development of character was consistent with gender expectations for the lead character in the stereotypic stories and in the nonstereotypic female mechanic story. For the nonstereotypic male nurse story, the development of character was consistent with the author's gender. Further evidence of stereotypic thinking occurred in those nonstereotypic stories where the lead character's gender was changed to be consistent with the stereotype of the occupational role. These findings support previous research on gender differences and gender perceptions

Pre-pubescent girls' evaluations of female images in Hong Kong media

“…While sex is a biological classification, gender is understood to be a psychological and social phenomenon that describes the cultural associations and expectations relating to one's biological sex (Rice & Dolgin, 2005). Gender differentiation takes place as children gradually learn to be masculine or feminine according to their interpretations of the gender identification expectations of their culture (Trepanier-Street, Romatowski, & McNair, 1990). Gender roles refer to the behaviors in which men and women are expected to engage (Rice & Dolgin, 2005).…”

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“…The inventory used for this study was created by the authors and based on their earlier research (Trepanier-Street, Romatowski, & McNair, 1990). Occupations used in the inventory were selected on the basis of familiarity of the role to young children (as evidenced on a pilot test) and on approximately equivalent male-and female-dominated careers.…”

Gender representation in Filipino storybooks for children

“…This notion has in fact been distinguished within decades of research where several studies have foreshadowed Copyright © 2018, IJAL, EISSN 2502-6747 similar concerns specifically within storybooks (Ashton, 1983;Jennings, 1975in Abad & Pruden, 2013Trepanier-Street, Romatowski & McNair, 1990). These in fact are not only evident in texts but even in visual symbolisms.…”