Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Sex Role Stereotypes as Expectations for Behavior

Abstract

The present article explores the notion that sex-role stereotypes, defined as sets of expectations about gender-appropriate behavior, can function as self-fulfilling prophecies. In a 2 × 2 × 2 design, men with traditional or nontraditional attitudes toward women watched one of two videotaped female job applicants behaving in a stereotypically feminine or nontraditional way, and predicted her probable success and satisfaction in eight careers. For the four predominantly female-occupied positions, the “feminine” self-presentation was judged more positively; for the predominantly male-occupied positions, the nontraditional self-presentation was judged more positively. Men with traditional attitudes toward women predicted less success for female social workers and personnel managers than did men with nontraditional attitudes. The implications of these results for the maintenance and reinforcement of sex-role stereotypes are discussed.