Abstract
Cross-sex behavior in boys generally is viewed more negatively than cross-sex behavior in girls. The two goals of this study were to assess attitudes toward tomboys and sissies, and to explore possible causes for differential evaluations of tomboys and sissies. Eighty undergraduates completed questionnaires assessing their attitudes toward tomboys and sissies, and their expectations for the future adult behavior of typical boys, typical girls, tomboys, and sissies. Results revealed that sissies were more negatively evaluated than tomboys. Women were more accepting of, and perceived more societal acceptance for cross-sex children, than were men. One reason for the negative evaluation of sissies may be that there is more concern for their future outcomes than for tomboys. Analyses of predictions concerning future behavior showed that sissies, more so than tomboys, were expected to continue to show cross-gender behavior into adulthood. Also, sissies were rated as likely to be less well adjusted and more likely to be homosexual when they grow up than other children. The accuracy of these beliefs and their implications for child-rearing practices are discussed.
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This research was supported in part by a Humanities and Social Sciences grant from the University of British Columbia. Portions of this work were presented as the meetings of the National Council of Family Relations, Philadelphia, November 1988. I appreciate Richard Fabes' comments on an earlier draft.
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Martin, C.L. Attitudes and expectations about children with nontraditional and traditional gender roles. Sex Roles 22, 151–166 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288188
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00288188