Factors Predicting Gender Roles in Children

Children show feminine or masculine features at a very early age. These features gradually grow in children with the socialization process. With this process children behave in line with and show preference for same-gender peers and activities which are seen as appropriate for their sex. There are a number of factors that lead to these gender-appropriate behaviors and create gender roles. The aim of the current study was to determine the effects of stories about women superheroes on the perception of children’s traditional gender roles. To date, there has been no research which has looked at the effects of female superheroes on gender stereotyping. The sample consisted of 76 (37 male and 37 female) Turkish speaking children between the ages of 6-11 years. Children were separated into two groups: The experimental and control. It was hypothesized that children in the experimental group who listened to female superheroes stories would show reduced gender bias and traditional gender role typing at the post-test phase in comparison to the control group who listened to stories about animals. They were given a pre-test to determine their TV exposure and pre-existing gender stereotyping. Those in the experimental group were read the Supergirl stories for three consecutive weeks, whereas children in the control condition were simply read stories about animals. At the post-test phase both groups received the same battery of questions as the pre-test and also, Job Check List, Peer preference scale and Toy preference scale were used. Findings showed that participants exposed to the experimental manipulation of storytelling, listed a significantly more number of female superheroes as their favorite superhero than before the intervention. No difference between conditions for gender stereotyped attitudes after storytelling was obtained. Results are discussed in the light of previous studies. Keywords: Gender, Gender Development, Gender Stereotyping, Gender Roles, Storytelling