Structure and Content of Gender Stereotypes: Effects of Somatic Appearance and Trait Information

Abstract

Two components of gender stereotypes were examined in order to determine their influence on judgments of gender–related characteristics. Male and female subjects were presented with photographs of female stimulus persons who differed in somatic appearance and were given information about traits. Subjects were asked to estimate the probability that the stimulus person possessed other gender–related traits and engaged in gender–related behaviors. Results provide support for a multiple–component construction of stereotypes, with physical appearance being the most potent component. An unfavorable image of low attractive women was also indicated.

The influence of gender‐stereotyped perfumes on leadership attribution

“…broad shoulders versus dainty physique) can outweigh sex as a basis of judgment. Their results show that the components of gender stereotypes differ in their ability to implicate other components, with physical appearance playing a dominant role (see also Freeman, 1987).…”

“…A multidimensional conception extends the formerly trait-based view of gender stereotypes and opens a more differentiated perspective. According to this conception, stereotypes are composed of diverse components, such as traits, role behaviors, occupations and physical appearance (Deaux & Kite, 1993;Deaux & Lewis, 1983, 1984Freeman, 1987;Jackson & Cash, 1985). While the salience of a person's biological sex is often considered sufficient for the activation of the corresponding stereotype components, the work of Deaux and Lewis (1984) suggests that gender-stereotyped physical characteristics (e.g.…”

The good soldier: who is s(he)?

“…It is a cue of which very few observers are unaware, prompting the use of gender roles as a salient category. As part of the`rules' of the social system in which females and males interact (Lips, 1993), gender roles are constructed of shared expectations about behaviors that are appropriate for members of each sex (Deaux and Lewis, 1984;Freeman, 1987). For example, males are seen as aggressive, while females are seen as passive (Deaux and Lewis, 1984).…”

The aetiology of eating disorders: A hypothesis of the interplay between social, cultural and biological factors

“…Bearing in mind links between adiposity and sexuality it is significant that they also noted a coincident increase in the number of diet-related articles in popular women's magazines. Currently, in Western society women believe themselves to be more attractive to men if they are slender (Furnham and Radley, 1989;Freeman, 1987;Franz and Herzog, 1987). Despite changes in the representation of women there is no evidence to support the notion that any particular body shape or size is more appealing to men in general (Smith et al, 1990) than any other and certainly no evidence that men are selectively drawn to women who are thin (Horvath, 1981;Kleinke and Staneski, 1980).…”