Gender stereotypes during adolescence: Developmental changes and the transition to junior high school.

Abstract

Although much evidence suggests that gender stereotyping becomes less flexible during adolescence, results of the present study indicate that gender stereotypes may actually become more flexible at some point during certain adolescent school transitions. The authors measured the flexibility of gender stereotypes in adolescents in Grades 4 through 11, using a combined cross-sectional and longitudinal design. Results indicated that flexibility increased for stereotypes concerning the psychological attributes of men and women after the transition into junior high school, regardless of whether this transition occurred during the 7th or 8th grade. Over the remaining years of junior high and high school, stereotype flexibility decreased. These results help resolve previous inconsistencies found in the literature by suggesting when and why changes in gender stereotype flexibility versus rigidity occur during adolescence.

Gender Discriminatory Behavior During Adolescence and Young Adulthood: A Developmental Analysis

“…Some studies supported the cognitive maturation prediction and showed that gender flexibility increases during adolescence (Carter and Patterson, 1982;Katz and Ksansnak, 1994;Nelson and Keith, 1990) whereas other studies supported the gender intensification prediction, showing that flexibility decreases during adolescence (Biernat, 1991;Hill and Lynch, 1983). Alfieri et al (1996) showed that gender flexibility does not change only as a function of age during adolescence but also depends on the social environment an individual lives in. They found that gender flexibility increased after the transition into junior high school and then decreased again.…”

“…Our re- sults suggest that with regard to gender ideology and gender discriminatory behavior, no significant changes occur during the 2 stages of adolescence. Alfieri et al (1996) suggested that gender flexibility during adolescence does not change only as a function of age but also depends on the social environment within which an individual lives such as the transition into junior high school. Since in Israel junior high school and high school are combined we assume that early and late adolescents were exposed to similar social environments.…”

“…Several researchers have examined how gender related attitudes change during adolescence (e.g., Alfieri et al, 1996). Two processes that take place during adolescence, gender intensification, and cognitive maturation lead to contradictory predictions.…”

Moteriškumo Ideologijos Sąsajos Su Paauglių Merginų Depresiškumu, Savęs Vertinimu Ir Subjektyviu Pasitenkinimu Gyvenimu

“…Tuo remiantis galima manyti, jog vėlyvojoje paauglystėje aptariamos moteriškumo ideologijos dimensijos tampa mažiau išreikš-tos ir ne tokios svarbios aiškinant merginų psichologinius sunkumus. Kita vertus, kai kurių tyrimų duomenys rodo, kad paauglių elgesio lankstumas ir kritiškumas lyčių stereotipų atžvilgiu iš pradžių didėja, o vėliau, vėlyvojoje paauglystėje, vėl mažėja (Al eri, Ruble, Higgins, 1996), t. y. paaugliai tam tikrą laiką vis mažiau laikosi lyčių stereotipų, o vėlyvojo-je paauglystėje jų stereotipiškumas socialinės lyties atžvilgiu sustiprėja.…”

La promoción de la igualdad y el respeto de la diversidad afectivo-sexual:bases de un programa de orientación y tutoría para educación secundaria=Promotion of equality and respect for sexual-emotional diversity: basis of a guidance programme and secondary

“…A ello se unen los cambios propios de la pubertad, lo cual no hace sino acrecentar la manifestación de comportamientos que representen su masculinidad o feminidad. En cambio, para Alfieri, Ruble y Higgins (1996), la transición al instituto muestra cierta flexibilidad en la consolidación de estos estereotipos dada su adaptación a un nuevo contexto social. Quizás ese contexto social haga que esa primera flexibilidad tienda a desaparecer y, con ella, la consolidación de los estereotipos, más en los chicos que en las chicas (Martin, 1993).…”