Knowledge of Sex-Trait Stereotypes

Abstract

The knowledge of sex-associated characteristics was investigated in children of northeast Brazil using 32 short stories representing stereotyped sex traits. Children of 5, 8, and 11 years from both upper and lower social classes acted as subjects. There was a general increase in knowledge of stereotypes with age, although the level of knowledge was less than found in previous investigations of children from the United States, England, and Ireland. Lower-class children demonstrated a much later learning of sex traits and female traits were much better known than male traits. It was concluded that, due to low contact with male society, the rigid roles of a traditional society retard knowledge of conventional male associated traits in young children.