Do Mothers' Gender-Related Attitudes or Comments Predict Young Children's Gender Beliefs?

Abstract

Objective: We tested relations among mothers' gender attitudes, mothers' comments about gender, and young children's gender-stereotyped beliefs. Design: Mothers (from mostly middle-class, European-American backgrounds) read and discussed a gender-related story to their child (N = 74, M = 64 months). Mothers' speech was coded as either endorsing or challenging gender stereotypes. Results: Mothers with gender-egalitarian attitudes used more counter-stereotypical comments. Mothers used more counter-stereotypic comments with daughters than sons. Mothers' gender attitudes predicted gender stereotyping in younger children (3–5 years) but not older children (6–7 years). However, mothers' speech did not predict children's gender stereotyping. Conclusions: Mothers' gender-related attitudes and comments may not reliably predict young children's gender-stereotyped beliefs.