A Study of Gender Perceptions of Young Children Using Language Classifications.

This paper reports a study of sex typing in children. A total of 213 preschool and elementary school children were asked to classify each of 20 words as a boy's word, girl's word, or either a boy's or girl's word. Words consistently classified by children as boys' words included "fighting,""hammer," and "blue." Words consistently classified by children as girls' words included "doll,""washing machine," and "crying." Words which were classified as equally boys' or girls' words included "swimming,""chair," and "pencil." Girls were less stereotypical in their responses than were boys. Elementary school boys were more stereotypical in their responses than were preschool boys. More consistent answers were given by elementary school students than by preschoolers, and by boys than by girls. A 12-item reference list is provided. A copy of the form used by the experimenters to record the children's responses is appended. (BC)