Investigating how children think about leadership may inform theories of the gender gaps in leadership among adults. In three studies (
The goal of the current study was to better understand the development of gender typicality in young adulthood by applying the dual-identity approach to gender typicality, previously developed with children, to a university sample. Participants ( n = 215, Mage= 20.20 years; 62% female) were asked to rate their perceived similarity to both own- and other-gender peers. They also completed questionnaires assessing sexist attitudes, internalized sexualization (females), adherence to male-typed behaviors in the context of interpersonal relationships (males; adherence to physical toughness and restrictive emotional expressivity), gender-based relationship efficacy, friendships, self-esteem, social self-efficacy, and social anxiety. Results indicated that self-perceived gender typicality involves comparisons to both gender groups, and that meaningful typologies can be created based on similarity to own- and other-gender groups. As with children, results indicated that identifying with one’s own gender was advantageous in terms of low social anxiety and relationships with own-gender peers. For adults who identified with both own- and other-gender peers, we identified additional social benefits (i.e., efficacy and friendships with other-gender peers). Further, we identified a downside to own-gender typicality: individuals who identified only with their own gender had more sexist attitudes than those who identified with the other gender. Findings support the viability of the dual-identity approach in young adults, and have implications for researchers assessing gender typicality across development.
more » « less- PAR ID:
- 10548964
- Publisher / Repository:
- SAGE Publications
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- International Journal of Behavioral Development
- Volume:
- 43
- Issue:
- 4
- ISSN:
- 0165-0254
- Format(s):
- Medium: X Size: p. 314-321
- Size(s):
- p. 314-321
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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