Attributes and roles assigned to characters in children's writing: Sex differences and sex-role perceptions

This research examined the creative writing of 180 elementary school children for evidence of sex difference and sex-role perceptions. Stories were analyzed for frequency of male and female characters, attributes, and roles. Writers were equally divided by sex and into three age groups—grades 1–2, 3–4, and 5–6. Results suggest that the total number of characters, roles, and attributes was equivalent. However, the distribution of male and female characters, roles, and attributes differed with male and female writers. Female writers included significantly more female characters and assigned more attributes and roles to these characters. Nevertheless, in the stories of both male and female writers, there was a predominance of male characters and assignment of attributes and roles to male characters. The findings support the development and implementation of a nonsexist curriculum.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45576/1/11199_2004_Article_BF00288084.pd

The Influence of Children's Literature on Gender Role Perceptions: A Reexamination

This project reexamined young children's gender attitudes regarding occupational roles. The results of this study suggested that young children's atitudes, while still generally stereotypic, were more flexible regarding occupational roles. The reading of carefully selected books and book related activities positively influenced gender attitudes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42647/1/10643_2004_Article_416648.pd

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

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 perceptionsPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66818/2/10.1177_0272431690104005.pd