Identification with gender roles: A personal construct psychology perspective.

A review of the literature regarding gender role identity and gender schema theory indicates that the identification with traditional gender roles is dependent upon the cognitive organization of one's perceptions of oneself and others based on gender. The application or personal construct psychology to the study of gender roles is explored and integrated into the theory of gender role identification. An empirical study was performed to test the extent to which traditionally gender-typed subjects use gender schemata in their descriptions of others. Subjects generated constructs in a free-response format as opposed to a structured inventory. These constructs were then classified as to their inclusion in the masculine or feminine gender role. Subjects who were classified as traditionally gender-typed using the Bem Sex Role Inventory were found to use more gender-relevant constructs than androgynous and undifferentiated subjects, and to use those constructs to differentiate males and females to a greater extent than androgynous and undifferentiated subjects. Traditionally gender-typed subjects were also more likely to stereotype others as traditionally gender-typed. Cross gender-typed males generally resembled androgynous and undifferentiated subjects while cross gender-typed females resembled traditionally gender-typed subjects regarding their use of gender role constructs.Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1996 .B34. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-07, Section: B, page: 4777. Adviser: M. Kral. Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1996.