Sex-Trait Stereotypes in France, Germany, and Norway

Abstract

Previous studies in the United States, England, and Ireland had demonstrated a high degree of cross-national generality in sex-trait stereotypes, i.e., the psychological traits which are differentially ascribed to men and women (e.g., men are aggressive, women are emotional, and the like). The present article reports on similar studies conducted with university student subjects in France, Germany, and Norway who were given translated versions of the Gough-Heilbrun Adjective Check List and were asked to report on those traits which were more frequently associated with men, with women, or with neither, in their respective countries. The results indicated a high degree of similarity in the findings of the three new continental groups and the three previous English-speaking groups. Although there were some apparent minor differences among countries, the results were sufficiently similar to permit the hypothesis that there are common sex-trait stereotypes which exist in all Western countries and, perhaps, even in countries of greater cultural diversity.