Gender perception in adolescents

This research was conducted with 116 students, 64 girls and 52 boys, aged 14-15 years in the 8th grade, in Kadikoy district of Istanbul. The research aimed to measure the perceptions of this sample group about the gender roles. The questionaire prepared to achieve this aim consists of two parts. The first part is a survey questionnaire prepared by the the investigators to determine the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants. The second part is composed of questionnaires from Bem Sex-Roles Invetory (BSRI) and Sex-Role Stereotyping to assess the participants' perception of the gender roles. The screening method, one of the quantitative research method, was used in the research. The data were analyzed using SPSS Windows analysis program. In analysis, the frequency distribution, one-way analysis of varience (ANOVA), and in independent groups, T test were used. As a result of the study, a significant relationship between adolescents' perceptions of gender stereotypes and socio-demographic characteristics was found. In all students, the socio-demographic characteristics, such as gender, parents' education levels, parents' professions, families' economic status, etc., were more clearly effective in defining the gender stereotypes about the female roles. On the other hand, these demographic characteristics were less efective in defining the gender stereotypes about the male roles. The research has produced results that support literature findings.