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The aim of this study is twofold: to determine whether (and how) gender stereotypes have changed over time through a comparison of two different sets of data collected in 1993 (N = 1255) and 2001 (N = 1255) from a representative sample of the Spanish population, and to examine the relation between gender traits and roles and its stability over time. In addition, special attention is paid to the psychometric properties of the measures of gender traits and roles used in the study. The content of gender stereotypes was found to remain stable over the target period of time, confirming the classical typology (a higher assignment of expressive-communal traits to women and of instrumental-agentic traits to men). The structure of the gender-role questionnaire allows us to distinguish between family-role and work-role stereotyping. Gender-role stereotyping shows a marked decline between 1993 and 2001, a result that contrasts with the stability of trait-role stereotyping. The fact that a very low correlation is observed at the two time points between these two components of gender stereotyping strongly suggests their independence. Keywords: gender stereotypes, instrumental traits, expressive traits, role stereotypesEn este estudio se persigue un doble objetivo: comprobar la evolución de los estereotipos de género en dos aplicaciones, efectuadas en 1993 (N = 1255) y 2001 (N = 1255), ambas con muestras representativas de la población española, y analizar la relación que existe entre rasgos y roles, examinando si se han producido cambios en esa relación con el paso del tiempo. Asimismo, se analizan las propiedades psicométricas de las medidas de rasgo y de rol empleadas. Los resultados muestran que el contenido de los estereotipos de rasgo no se ha modificado, confirmándose la clásica tipología en la que se asignan más rasgos expresivo-comunales a las mujeres que a los hombres y, por el contrario, más rasgos instrumental-agentes a los hombres. La estructura del cuestionario de roles, permite diferenciar entre estereotipia de rol familiar y estereotipia de rol laboral. Al comparar la evolución de los estereotipos en este periodo, se observa un descenso en la estereotipia de la población española, más acusada en el componente de rol que en el de rasgo. La correlación entre ambos componentes es muy baja o no significativa, sin que se observen cambios importantes en la evolución de esa relación. Estos resultados parecen corroborar la independencia entre los componentes de rasgo y de rol. Palabras clave: estereotipos de género, rasgos instrumentales, rasgos expresivos, estereotipia de rol de género

Gender differences in choice of studies emerge already in adolescence. Two studies with adolescents are presented, the goal of which is to explore the influence of gender by assessing males and females who choose studies related to Medicine or Engineering. Study 1, correlational (N = 330, mean age 15.9, 56.7% girls), shows that girls who choose technology are more poorly appraised than girls who choose other studies. Study 2 (N = 130; mean age 16.77, 56.2% girls), experimental, measures implicit attitudes (using the IAT) towards males and females from Medicine and Engineering. Implicit attitudes are more favorable towards women if they are studying Medicine and towards men if they study Engineering. The results are analyzed with relation to the percentages of boys and girls in the different fields of study.

a b s t r a c tThis work presents the results of a qualitative study of the rating of the bicycle as the transport mode to travel to the workplace. Twenty-one semistructured interviews were performed in two Spanish cities, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Madrid, with different cycling infrastructures and percentages of bicycle usage. The results were categorized and interpreted within the framework of the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1991). The results indicate that the bicycle is considered a reliable and flexible transport mode in instrumental terms, and that providing objective information about its advantages could increase its attraction for non-cyclists. Other intrinsic benefits, such as its effects on physical fitness, are highly valued. The benefits of bicycle usage on the environment do not seem to be aspects that directly motivate its use. These symbolic beliefs contribute to its revaluation as a transport mode, and may increase the acceptance of public policies favoring it. The analysis also shows a prototypical image of the cyclist as a young, active, and socially aware person. The perception of risk of accidents is the main obstacle for non-cyclists, but not among riders. The latter make internal attributions about their personal safety, choosing routes with less traffic, riding the bicycle in a safer way. Control beliefs distinguish between beliefs associated with external factors (like infrastructure and other measures provided by public bodies to increase cycling) and those attributed to internal factors (perception of self-efficacy in the face of drawbacks, clothing, climatology, or insecurity). Presenting these coping strategies to people contemplating the possibility of cycling can increase their motivation. These results may be particularly useful when designing measurement instruments that take these differences of perception of control into account.