Gender Stereotypes Research Articles

Design and Validation of a Scale to Measure Perceptions and Misconceptions about Menstruation in Nursing College Students: The METCON© Scale.

Menstruation remains surrounded by taboo and symbolic violence for many adolescents and young women today, and it is urgent to identify existing stereotypes. The objective was to validate a Spanish-language instrument to assess perceptions, false beliefs, gender stereotypes, fears, and taboos surrounding menstruation in nursing women's studies. A cross-sectional study for psychometric validation of the METCON© scale (22 item version) was assessed in a cohort of 401 female nursing university students (2016-2019), assessing the psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency and structural validity. Furthermore, an invariance analysis was conducted to discern structural disparities before and after studying the subject of gender and health. The METCON© scale showed acceptable internal consistency scores measured by Cronbach's alpha. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a structure of six factors which explained 60.50% of the total variance with a total of 19 items. Reliability analysis indicated adequate internal consistency (α = 0.613). Confirmatory factor analysis showed adequate values, confirming this structure. The invariance analyses identified that the structure remained adequate when evaluated before and after studying the subject of gender and health. Once validated, this instrument could serve as a valid and reliable tool for comprehensively examining perceptions, beliefs, and myths surrounding menstruation, addressing not only biological but also social and cultural aspects.

When boosting gender stereotypes increases flow experience and reduces self-handicapping in gamified tutoring systems

The threat of stereotypes affects various psychological mechanisms, including affective/subjective, cognitive, and motivational ones, and can be present in gamified online educational environments in various ways. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether gender stereotypes in gamified virtual environments could affect the flow experience, self-handicapping behavior, and performance of Brazilian students. To achieve this, we experimented with 147 participants (60 males and 87 females) who were high school and higher education students from public and private institutions in the state of Alagoas, located in the northeastern region of Brazil. We randomly allocated the participants to three distinct virtual environments: a neutral environment, a male-stereotyped environment, and a female-stereotyped environment. We introduced the stereotype threat condition when the participant was in an environment that did not correspond to their gender. In contrast, the boost condition occurred when the environment corresponded to their gender. The results of this study indicate that the presence of gender stereotypes can influence both the flow experience and the self-handicapping behavior of Brazilian students in gamified virtual environments. We observed statistically significant differences that suggest that the implementation of stereotypes can influence the relationship between variables.

Gender, Politics, and the Glass Ceiling: Comparative Analysis of Male and Female Politicians’ Agenda-Building Efforts in the U.S. Primaries

ABSTRACT This study focuses on investigating whether male and female politicians have an equal opportunity to influence the media agenda through their strategic communication efforts during the 2020 U.S. primary elections. Exploratory in nature, this study is grounded in agenda-building theory. This research employs mixed-method content analysis to compare the campaign press releases and subsequent news coverage of three male and three female candidates from the U.S. primaries. The findings revealed that, while both female and male politicians’ messages significantly correlated with the news agenda across three levels of agenda-building, there was no significant difference by gender. However, issues framed as “masculine” were more strongly linked with the media agenda compared to “feminine” issues. This study contributes to communication research by exploring the current state of gender stereotypes in political media coverage, offering insights into the persistence of a ‘glass ceiling’ in strategic news coverage. Additionally, it contributes to agenda-building research by incorporating gender and the context of primary elections in the U.S. which are underrepresented in the literature, into the complex relationship between political campaign messages and news agendas.

Women’s Sexual Agency, Pleasure, and Orgasm in Popular Netflix Series: A Quantitative Content Analysis of Mixed-Gender Scenes

Media representations of sexuality can play a relevant role in the development of gender stereotypes and sexual learning processes. In the current pre-registered study, we examined the representation of sexuality in content on Netflix, a dominant force in global mass media consumption. We coded 271 mixed-gender sexual scenes across seven highly popular Netflix series for orgasm portrayal, depiction of sexual behaviors, including clitoral stimulation, and gendered sexual scripts (i.e., initiation, control, and expression of desires). Our results revealed a nuanced picture of women’s sexual pleasure representation. Women’s orgasms were depicted less frequently than men’s, although orgasm portrayal was generally rare. Sexual behaviors were mostly limited to penile-vaginal intercourse, though cunnilingus was depicted more frequently than fellatio. Regarding gendered sexual scripts, women were portrayed as equally sexually agentic as men, initiating sexual encounters, taking control, and expressing their needs and desires. Our findings indicate that this content simultaneously reinforces and challenges gender stereotypes related to sexual experiences, highlighting the need for sexual educators to critically address the realism of mainstream media portrayals to foster a nuanced understanding of sexuality and pleasure.

Agency Penalties From Taking Parental Leave for Women in Men-Dominated Occupations: Archival and Experimental Evidence.

Organizations have started more progressively using and offering family benefits including parental leaves to address the issues of balancing work and family life. Although such leaves are fundamental for supporting, attracting, and retaining women, we examine whether such leaves may also inadvertently affect women's careers in occupations that overly value masculine traits, unless managed carefully. Drawing on the literature on gender stereotypes (micro factors) and occupation gender type (macro factors), we argue that longer (vs. shorter) parental leaves negatively affect women's work outcomes (i.e., annual income, salary recommendation, hireability, and leadership effectiveness) in men-dominated but not in women-dominated occupations because it lowers perceptions of women's agency. We find support for our hypotheses across three studies in the Australian context with an archival data set and two experiments. Our work shows that men-dominated organizational structures reinforce traditional gender stereotypes, whereas such reinforcement does not happen in women-dominated organizational structures. Our research equips leaders and organizations with insights into the unintended negative consequences of parental leave for women. This understanding serves as a crucial first step in developing strategies and programs to mitigate these effects, thereby supporting women in men-dominated occupations and fostering more inclusive and healthy workplaces.

Representation Of Women In The Writing And Pictures Of The Back Of The Truck: An Analysis Of Sexist Language

Communication media has an essential role in shaping public perception of women. However, the representation of women in the media often has a negative impact. For example, the writing and pictures behind the truck often contain messages that demean women through objectifying diction and visuals. This study aims to analyze the representation of women in truck visual media and shows that the media reinforces gender stereotypes and limits women's potential in society. A qualitative research approach is applied to explore natural phenomena through triangulation techniques and inductive and descriptive data analysis. Identifying key informants is crucial in this method, with selection based on their level of involvement in the social situation being studied. The researcher conducted direct interviews with five informants who have relevant knowledge and experience, using the Critical Discourse Analysis theory that underlies this study to explore how women are represented in the tailgate of trucks in the form of writing and drawings. The findings of this study reveal that the sexist language in the tailgate of a car reflects the view that women are (1) sexual objects, (2) inanimate objects, (3) vulnerable figures who need sexual attention, and (4) weak figures. The representation of women in the writings and images on the back of the truck not only strengthens the patriarchal power structure in Indonesian society but also highlights the complexity of the interaction between language, culture, and power.

Gender bias in assessing narcissistic personality: Exploring the utility of the ICD-11 dimensional model.

Narcissistic personality disorder as captured in categorical diagnostic systems (e.g., DSM-5) emphasizes grandiose features more associated with masculine norms and under-emphasizes vulnerable features more associated with femininity. This poses significant implications in diagnostic outcome and clinical treatment in women with narcissistic preoccupations. Research finds that clinicians using the DSM-5 categorical system tend to diagnose vulnerable narcissism in women as other 'feminized' personality disorders (e.g., borderline), but no research has explored gender differences in narcissism using the new ICD-11 dimensional framework for personality disorders. This study investigated the clinical utility of the ICD-11 approach in capturing gender differences in narcissistic presentations. Adopting an online vignette-based study, mental health clinicians (N = 157; 71.3% female) completed ratings of ICD-11 personality disorder severity and trait domains for two cases reflecting 'grandiose' and 'vulnerable' narcissism in hypothetical male or female patients. The results showed that ratings of core impairments in personality functioning and overall severity were consistent irrespective of patient or clinician gender, contrasting prior research using categorical models. While some differences were observed in trait domain (e.g., negative affectivity) between patient gender, these results suggest the clinical utility of the ICD-11 model as emphasizing elements of personality functioning in the process of assessment and diagnosis, therefore potentially being less susceptible to influences of gender stereotype in aiding clinical conceptualization.

What does a scientist look like? Children's perceptions of scientist gender and skin tone

AbstractWhen asked to draw a scientist, children typically draw a gender stereotypical male representation; however, research has not yet assessed these representations in terms of scientist stereotypical skin tone. The current study examined children's (N = 69, 66.7% female, Mage = 7.60, SD = 2.13) scientist perceptions by analyzing both the gender and skin tone of their scientist drawings as well as stereotypical features represented (lab coats, scientific instruments, etc.). This study also examined how these perceptions as reflected in the drawings were related to children's explicit gender stereotypes and their science growth mindset. Boys were less likely to draw a female scientist than were girls. Additionally, children with higher growth mindset were more likely to draw a female scientist. Lastly, with age, children were less likely to draw a female scientist, or a darker skin‐toned scientist as compared with a male or lighter skin‐toned scientist and were more likely to draw a scientist with stereotypical features. This study furthers our knowledge of children's perceptions about scientists.

Gender perspective in the computational thinking program of Uruguay: teachers’ perceptions and results of the Bebras tasks

The Uruguayan computational thinking (CT) program promotes CT skills for students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Since 2017, it has reached over 70,000 students, with participation and Bebras challenge performance equally distributed by gender. This study examines gender perspectives in the program, focusing on teacher perceptions, student outcomes, and participation. Positive initiatives to encourage girls’ involvement are described. A survey revealed a slight preference among teachers for boys in programming and CT skills. Bebras results showed girls performed equally well, or better, than boys. The findings highlight that while progress has been made toward gender equality in Uruguay’s CT program, challenges remain. The fact that girls perform as well as boys is promising. Addressing teacher biases and gender stereotypes can help create a more inclusive environment for all students to develop CT skills.

Global Sex Disparities in Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Scoping Review.

This scoping review collates evidence for sex biases in the receipt of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BCPR) among patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients globally. The MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, and Embase databases were screened for relevant literature, dated from inception to March 9, 2022. Studies evaluating the association between BCPR and sex/gender in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, except for pediatric populations and cardiac arrest cases with traumatic cause, were included. The review included 80 articles on BCPR in men and women globally; 58 of these studies evaluated sex differences in BCPR outcomes. Fifty-nine percent of the relevant studies (34/58) indicated that women are less likely recipients of BCPR, 36% (21/58) observed no significant sex differences, and 5% (3/58) reported that women are more likely to receive BCPR. In other studies, women were found to be less likely to receive BCPR in public but equally or more likely to receive BCPR in residential settings. The general reluctance to perform BCPR on women in the Western countries was attributed to perceived frailty of women, chest exposure, pregnancy, gender stereotypes, oversexualization of women's bodies, and belief that women are unlikely to experience a cardiac arrest. Most studies worldwide indicated that women were less likely to receive BCPR than men. Further research from non-Western countries is needed to understand the impact of cultural and socioeconomic settings on such biases and design customized interventions accordingly.

Leadership Styles and Effectiveness of Female Officers in the US Military: A Historical Perspective and Recent Developments

Aims: This study aims to provide a concise historical perspective and summarize recent developments in leadership styles and effectiveness of female officers in the US military. The review focuses on the evolving roles of women in military leadership, the predominant leadership styles employed, and their effectiveness in the contemporary military context. Study Design: A narrative study of peer-reviewed articles and official military reports published primarily within the last decade (2013-2023). Methodology: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using military and leadership databases, including JSTOR, Military & Government Collection, and Leadership Studies. The review prioritized empirical studies, policy analyses, and authoritative reviews published in reputable journals and official military publications. Results: The study reveals a significant increase in leadership opportunities for female officers over the past decade. Transformational and adaptive leadership styles are predominant among female officers. They have demonstrated effectiveness in team cohesion, crisis management, conflict resolution, and mentorship. In some areas, such as strategic thinking and innovative problem-solving, female officers show comparable or superior performance to their male counterparts. However, challenges related to gender stereotypes and work-life balance persist. Conclusion: While substantial progress has been made in integrating women into military leadership roles, continued efforts are needed to address remaining barriers. The unique contributions of female officers to military leadership, particularly in areas of team cohesion and adaptive problem-solving, warrant further research and recognition in military doctrine and training programs.

ANALYSIS OF GENDER EQUALITY: THE ROLE WOMEN IN TEACHINGS AND PRACTICES OF SIKHISM IN MEDAN CITY

This research aims to analyze gender equality in the teachings and practices of Sikhism in Medan City. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study method. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with key informants, participant observation, and document analysis. The research results show that the teachings of Sikhism emphasize gender equality between men and women. This is reflected in various Sikh sacred texts, such as the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, which contains stories and teachings about strong and inspiring women. Sikh teachings and practices in Medan demonstrate a strong commitment to gender equality. These Sikh principles are in line with Simone De Beauvoir's feminist theory, she emphasizes and encourages that women must believe they have equal rights and abilities to manage their own lives. and the Sikh Religion in Medan is active in realizing gender equality through various programs and activities. It is important to note that this analysis only provides a brief overview of the role and position of women in Sikh teachings and practices in Medan through the lens of feminist theory. These challenges include patriarchy that still exists in society, gender stereotypes, and women's lack of access to education and economic opportunities. This research recommends several efforts to improve gender equality in the Sikh Religion in Medan. These efforts include education about gender equality, women's empowerment, and increasing women's participation in various aspects of life in society.

Poor, brainwashed and immature: prevalent gender stereotypes in Indonesian preventing violent extremism (PVE) and counterterrorism (CT) efforts

ABSTRACT The root causes, nature and impact of Indonesian women’s involvement in terrorism has yet to influence Indonesian Counter Terrorism (CT) and Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) policies. Through a feminist discourse analysis of semi-structured interviews with 28 Indonesian government representatives, this article argues that Indonesian CT and PVE policies continue to rely on gender stereotypes rather than addressing the gendered realities of Indonesian women’s relationship with violent extremism. This reflects broader global discourses regarding women and terrorism but are shaped by unique religious, cultural, political and historical influences within the Indonesian context – the Indonesian gender order. This article finds that the stereotypes – depicting female extremists as immature, brainwashed and poor – lead to a generalised applicability of the one-size-fits-all approach of income generation, overlooking female extremists’ culpability, focusing on protection of “women and children”, neglecting the roles diverse actors in CT and PVE efforts, and reinforcing the Indonesian gender order.

Educating gender equity through non-competitive cooperative motor games: Transforming stereotypes and socio-affective dynamics

Non-competitive cooperative motor games hold the potential to educate gender equity from a relational perspective. These motor games present educational relational challenges where different genders interact for mutual benefit. Such interactions generate emotional well-being, enhance socio-affective relationships, and promote feminized motor conducts that potentially perform gender hegemonies and reduce gender stereotypes. This study, grounded in the ethics of care and motor praxeology, explored the effects of non-competitive cooperative motor games on group and cross-gender socio-affective rejections, gender stereotypes and emotional well-being, along with the mediation effects of these interconnected variables. Researchers conducted a quasi-experimental study where 11 participants (Mage = 11.16; SD = 1.35) from a summer sports camp played non-competitive cooperative motor games. The study employed sociometric questionnaires, emotional questionnaires (PANAS-C) and gender stereotype questionnaires (NATGEN). Data were analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistical techniques, social network analysis and mediation analysis. Results revealed the effectiveness of non-competitive cooperative motor games in reducing cross-gender rejections among girls, maintaining low group rejections, promoting emotional well-being and reducing gender stereotypes. Mediation analysis showed that gender stereotypes and positive emotions act as a protective barrier against group rejection. This study presents an innovative educational perspective that combines the scientific foundations of motor praxeology with the theoretical bases of the ethics of care. The research provides teachers and researchers with a practical pedagogical tool based on non-competitive cooperative motor games. These games are designed to enhance gender equity, promote emotional well-being, and reduce gender-based rejection and stereotypes. Keywords: sociometry, group cohesion, non-formal education, friendship, feminism, sport, inclusion, social acceptance

Transformational Leadership: Women's Role in Building Competitive Integrated Islamic School

This study aims to analyze the principal's strategy in overcoming obstacles such as gender stereotypes and patriarchal culture and its impact on the management of educational institutions into competitive integrated Islamic schools. The research method used is field research with a qualitative case study approach. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation. Data were analyzed thematically to identify themes of women's leadership and patriarchal challenges and interpreted to understand their impact on school culture. The results of the study indicate that women's leadership in schools has shown extraordinary abilities in overcoming the obstacles faced, especially gender stereotypes and patriarchal culture. With an inclusive, participatory, and transformational leadership approach, the principal has proven her capability to manage educational institutions with solid vision, integrity, and commitment. This study contributes to the field of educational leadership by providing empirical evidence of the effectiveness of women's transformational leadership in the context of Islamic education, especially in overcoming gender-based challenges.

Exiles of love?: uncovering lesbian voices in interwar Czechoslovakia

Lesbian voices and experiences have received little attention in Czech historiography: recent research has concentrated on the modern era from the 1950s. This article deepens our understanding of lesbian lives in interwar Prague. It focuses on two forgotten lesbian novels, Exiles of Love and The Third Sex, which were deliberately suppressed after 1948 by the Communist regime as examples of inferior bourgeois literature. The two authors, Lída Merlínová and Gill Sedláčková, both hailed from Prague’s cultural world (theatre and film) and were active too in the 1930s Czech movement for homosexual reform. Spanning the late twenties to the late thirties, the novels reveal tantalising glimpses of the evolving sub-culture of interwar Prague. Merlínová’s naïve novel of 1929, Exiles of Love, was the first Czech lesbian novel, and it betrayed the 1920s optimism of the ‘Czech New Woman’ who was prepared to challenge gender stereotypes. Sedláčková’s novel, The Third Sex, is a more explicit study from 1937, reflecting the more mature sub-culture but also a cynicism about the chances of homosexual reform. Yet it manages, even more than Exiles, to convey an uplifting and moral message. Indeed, both novels are about lesbian self-knowledge, exploring the scope for same-sex survival in a world where the best solution may be abroad, not in ‘provincial Prague’. In restoring these texts to lesbian literature we recover a range of voices, expressing the hopes and frustrations of some queer Czech women in an unusually liberal era.

Gender stereotypes in artificial intelligence within the accounting profession using large language models

This study investigates how artificial intelligence (AI) perpetuates gender stereotypes in the accounting profession. Through experiments employing large language models (LLMs), we scrutinize how these models assign gender labels to accounting job titles. Our findings reveal differing tendencies among LLMs, with one favouring male labels, another female labels, and a third showing a balanced approach. Statistical analyses indicate significant disparities in labelling patterns, and job titles classified as male are associated with higher salary ranges, suggesting gender-related bias in economic outcomes. This study reaffirms existing literature on gender stereotypes in LLMs and uncovers specific biases in the accounting context. It underscores the transfer of biases from the physical to the digital realm through LLMs and highlights broader implications across various sectors. We propose raising public awareness as a means to mitigate these biases, advocating for proactive measures over relying solely on human intervention.

An Exploration of Sexual Consent Beliefs, Attitudes, and Behaviors among Middle School Students in Canada

An essential component of healthy sexual exploration is the understanding of sexual consent. Unfortunately, sexual consent is not consistently taught in sex education programs developed for adolescents. Furthermore, although early adolescence is a critical developmental period for the formation of sexual identity, norms, attitudes, and relationships, this population is underrepresented in the sexual consent literature. To fill this important gap, this study examined the sexual consent beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of 254 middle school students from a large, urban city in the province of Ontario. Correlates and predictors of sexual consent endorsement were tested via bivariate and multiple regression analyses. Greater perceived negative sanctions of dating violence and higher endorsement of gender stereotypes emerged as variables significantly related to and predictive of sexual consent attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and affirmative consent norms. Gender was also a significant correlate, as girls were more likely than boys to endorse affirmative sexual consent beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. The findings highlight important group differences and provide guidance for the design and implementation of sexual education and prevention programs.

Nurturing the Struggle: Women’s Politics of Patience in Demanding Environmental Justice in Cilacap

The PT S2P coal-fired power plant (CFPP) in Cilacap has generated considerable profits for the capitalist country since 2006, while simultaneously causing environmental damage and rendering local communities vulnerable. This paper employs a case study approach to examine the role of women's agency from the Global South in the social movement for environmental justice. It considers how global-local economic and political relations in Cilacap influence this movement. It sought to explain women's agency in claiming the right to a healthy and decent environment by testing the theory of the politics of patience, which located women outside and against state and corporate power. Through ethnography, in-depth interviews, and meetings with activists, public officials, and NGOs, this study depicted women as political actors in the face of the negative impacts of the state-electricity company nexus. In their struggles, women were confronted with gender stereotypes that were shaped by the state and reinforced by society. These stereotypes prevented women from participating in social movements that demanded their rights. The most important finding was that the nurturing role of women has ensured that the struggle for the right to a healthy and decent environment has lasted longer and has remained outside of and against the state.

In Search of Women’s Identity

Abstract The aim of this article is an attempt women’s identity. uthors search for answers for this question in history, gender stereotypes and feminism. It should be remembered that the process of socialization plays a significant role in the process of identity construction. It is associated with the specific social environments in which human socialization takes place. The concept of identity raises the issue of social position as well as past and present position in the social system. Both collective and individual identities are fluid, change over time and are created throughout life.