bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blaming the Mother: An Experimental Investigation of Sex-Role Bias in Countertransference
Authors: Abramowitz Christine V.
Published: July 2006

Male and female family therapists read bogus case descriptions of families in which a boy or girl was depicted as athletically incompetent or obese and unattractive (i.e., masculine or feminine sex-role inadequate), rendered judgments of mother versus father blame and treatment need, and completed a self-report measure of sex-role attitudes. Mothers tended to be implicated in children's psychopathologies slightly more than fathers, but less so than expected. Therapists who reported traditional sex-role attitudes assigned greater treatment need to mothers of obese-unattractive children than to mothers of athletically incompetent children. Mothers of disturbed girls were regarded as more blameworthy and as requiring treatment more than mothers of identically-described boys. Altogether, the notion of sex-role related clinician bias received only partial support.
Sometimes Nothing Succeeds like Success: Reactions to Success and Failure in Sex-Linked Occupations
Authors: Garland Howard
Published: July 2006

Males and females read descriptions of a male or female worker who succeeded or failed as a manager or secretary. Subjects responded with impressions of the worker, causal attributions for his/her success or failure, and evaluations of the likelihood of a number of positive and negative consequences for the worker. Based upon earlier work, a generalized third-order interaction between worker sex, occupation, and outcome was hypothesized. In contrast to this hypothesis, highly consistent and powerful main effects of outcome were found on all three types of dependent measures. Briefly, successful workers were viewed more positively and expected to experience more positive consequences than those who failed, regardless of their sex or occupation. In addition, success was attributed more to ability and effort and less to the job itself than was failure. The discussion centers on conditions that might limit the effects of sex-role stereotyping on observer reactions to success and failure.
Tomboyism
Authors: Hyde Janet S. , Rosenberg B. G. , Behrman Jo Ann
Published: July 2006

The meager research available on tomboyism is based on the assumption that it is rare and abnormal. Following an initial observation that 78% of a group of undergraduate women reported having been tomboys in childhood, the frequency of tomboyism was assessed in two samples, one of junior-high girls, the other of adult women. In the junior-high sample, 63% reported being tomboys, while 51% of the adult women reported having been tomboys in childhood. Tomboyish behaviors such as a preference for active, outdoor games, playing with boys, and wearing jeans were also very frequent. It was concluded that tomboyism is statistically quite common and there is little indication that it is abnormal.
Determinants of Male Family-Role Performance
Authors: Perrucci Carolyn C. , Potter Harry R. , Rhoads Deborah L.
Published: July 2006

Three competing hypotheses are tested regarding determinants of husband's (vs. wife's) participation in 12 selected household/child-care activities. The research utilizes interview responses of husbands, although it compares responses of both husbands and wives in a proportionate stratified area-probability sample from adjacent midwestern cities. The socialization-ideology hypothesis receives the strongest, albeit modest, support of the three hypotheses. Only marginal support is found for the relative husband/wife resources hypothesis, emphasizing professional employment of wives. No support is found for the time-availability hypothesis. Implications for the further integration of work and family roles for men are considered.
Family Size, Satisfaction, and Productivity in Dual-Career Couples
Authors: Bryson Rebecca , Bryson Jeff B. , Johnson Marilyn F.
Published: July 2006

Responses by 196 couples—in which both spouses were members of the American Psychological Association—to a series of questions regarding domestic satisfaction, job satisfaction, and productivity were examined as a function of years since final degree and number of children in the family. There were consistent differences between the sexes in responses to these questions, indicating that wives were less satisfied and less productive than husbands in these couples. However, prior differences between groups in age, years since final degree, and rate of full-time employment disallowed any meaningful interpretations of these differences. Family size was found to influence satisfaction with time available for domestic activities, job, and avocations. Significant interactions indicated that these effects were more severe for the wife than for the husband, indicating that wives in dual-career couples bear a disproportionate share of the burden for child care. Influences of family size on satisfaction with rate of advancement and freedom to set long-term career goals were also noted.
Women in the Middle Years: A Critique of Research and Theory
Authors: Barnett Rosalind C. , Baruch Grace K.
Published: July 2006

Research and theory on women in the middle years reflect assumptions and biases that limit our understanding and impair our ability to resolve conflicting findings about women's well-being. Such theorists as Erikson and Levinson focus on chronological age and assume an inappropriate sequence of stages and events. In most research, the centrality of women's reproductive role is assumed and the importance of their work role pattern is ignored. Thus menopause and the “empty nest” receive disproportionate attention. Too little attention is given to stage of the family life cycle and the conditions and status of work. Two active research areas that appear promising for understanding adult women are also discussed: locus of control and attributions; and social networks and support systems.
Persuasibility of Women: Conventional Wisdom Re-examined
Authors: Kempe Linda J. , Maloney Patrick , Dambrot Faye H.
Published: July 2006

This study examined sex differences in persuasibility at differing levels of topic involvement. A pilot study was conducted to select topics which were of high and low involvement and which did not show sex differences in terms of agreement, interest or information about the topics. Subjects were 296 Introductory Psychology students. Pre-test and post-test measures were obtained as a measure of opinion change. Control groups were used to control for effects of testing, maturation, and other threats to internal and external validity. The treatment consisted of written persuasive communications arguing against the opinions previously reported by a majority of subjects. Contrary to most previous research, results indicated that there were no significant sex differences or interactions in persuasibility using topics of low or high involvement.
The Effects of Locus of Control on Coalition Formation Among College Females
Authors: McBride Kevin J. , Lao Rosina C.
Published: July 2006

Past research in coalition formation reveals differing strategies between sexes, and that females tend to follow the Anti-Competitive Theory. The present study tries to show that a theory of coalition formation based solely on sex is inadequate and suggests that personality variables be included in explaining this phenomenon. The personality variable chosen for this study was the locus of control.

Based on their scores on the locus of control scale, 45 college coeds were placed into three categories of triads: externals, mixed and internals. Each subject was in turn assigned weights of 4, 3, and 2 in playing a dice game where they could form alliances or play individually. Results indicated that both the frequency and the pattern of coalitions formed were significantly influenced by locus of control, thus the findings lend support to the basic reasoning of the researchers.
Androgyny in Psychotherapy: But Will It Sell in Peoria?
Authors: Kenworthy Joy Anne
Published: July 2006

Androgyny, as conceptualized in psychology, is based on traditional masculine and feminine stereotypes. Masculine characteristics (as measured by two commonly used sex role inventories) contribute more to measures of self-esteem than do feminine characteristics from the same inventories, indicating that masculine characteristics have more functional value in our culture. Traditionally feminine characteristics are not highly valued by either clients or therapists. However, therapists need to be aware of potential costs to women who make nontraditional choices, moving toward androgyny. It is questionable that androgynous women are perceived in the same favorable manner as androgynous males, particularly in a traditional social context. The consequences of internal and external conflicts created by moving toward androgyny or by devaluation of feminine characteristics cannot be dismissed lightly. Psychotherapists must be willing to assist clients with the external problems that psychological research has demonstrated exist for women who either must or choose to function in roles that are not traditional.
Discussant's Comments Symposium: Applications of Androgyny to the Theory and Practice of Psychotherapy
Authors: Vogel Susan R.
Published: July 2006

As the preceding papers indicate, social change is creating pressure upon women and men to become increasingly androgynous. Thus, it is necessary to clarify the parameters of psychologically healthy androgynous functioning. Androgyny is currently defined in terms of the relative balance between masculine and feminine characteristics; it is suggested that both the relative degree of masculinity and feminity, and the particular configuration of characteristics need to be taken into account in specifying the convergence between androgyny and psychological health. Finally, the assumption that masculinity and femininity are orthogonal dimensions is questioned for some characteristics.
The Myth of Motherhood: A Study of Attitudes Toward Motherhood
Authors: Hare-Mustin Rachel T. , Broderick Patricia C.
Published: July 2006

Traditional attitudes toward motherhood reflect many contradictions. The Motherhood Inventory (MI), a 40 item questionnaire, has been developed to study attitudes toward motherhood and the motherhood myth. The MI includes items relating to the control of reproduction, abortion, adoption, single motherhood, male-female relationships, and idealized and punitive attitudes toward mothers. The 301 subjects in this study were drawn largely from undergraduate and graduate students at an eastern university and their parents. Comparisons with scores on the Spence-Helmreich Attitudes toward Women Scale (AWS) revealed that the sample was more liberal than the original AWS sample. Men were found to hold significantly more traditional attitudes toward motherhood than women. Younger subjects also agreed more with the myth of motherhood as did unmarried subjects. Catholics more than non-Catholics rejected abortion and supported the primacy of the woman's role as mother. Education produced the most pronounced effect on attitudes toward motherhood with more liberal attitudes held by those who were college graduates.
Jack Went up the Hill … but Where Was Jill?
Authors: Peter Shirley St.
Published: July 2006

To assess the premise that picture books are important transmitters of sex-role information, 206 picture books for children, ages 3 to 6, were analyzed. Three groups were formed: (1) titles published before the women's movement (1903–1965); (2) titles published after the women's movement (1966–1975); (3) titles chosen from a specialized nonsexist list of books about girls (1882–1973). Analyses indicated that children are presented with sex-typed book models: females, underrepresented in titles, central roles, and illustrations; males, overrepresented in instrumental pursuits and underrepresented in expressive activities. On the other hand, the third group of books featured mostly female characters and contained a predominance of instrumental models with a minimum of expressive activities. The data revealed that picture books today provide stereotyped models for young children to emulate.
Masculine Instrumentality and Feminine Expressiveness: Their Relationships with Sex Role Attitudes and Behaviors
Authors: Spence Janet T. , Helmreich Robert L.
Published: July 2006

Data from the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) and the Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ) Masculinity and Femininity scales have led to the hypothesis that androgynous individuals are more “behaviorally flexible” than others, manifesting both masculine and feminine role behaviors. Sex-role androgyny is also said to have other beneficial consequences such as high self esteem. The content of these instruments, however, is largely confined to socially desirable instrumental (masculine) and expressive (feminine) personality traits. A review of the literature indicates that these abstract trait dimensions have only minimal relationships with sex-role attitudes and sex-role behaviors not tapping instrumentality and expressiveness, and provide little support for the general behavioral flexibility hypothesis. Although PAQ and BSRI findings cannot be generalized to sex-role behaviors in general, the literature suggests that instrumentality and expressiveness per se have important implications. Appreciation of their contributions may be advanced more rapidly if these trait dimensions are disentangled from global concepts of sex-roles or masculinity, femininity, and androgyny.
Development and Validation of the Sexist Attitudes Toward Women Scale (SATWS)
Authors: Benson Peter L. , Vincent Steven
Published: July 2006

Although sexism is now defined as a major social problem, there have been very few empirical studies investigating its correlates and determinants. One primary reason for this is that there are no published sexism scales, and hence it is difficult to assess individual differences in sexism. This article describes the development and validation of a 40–item Sexist Attitudes Toward Women Scale (SATWS). On rational-intuitive grounds, it is hypothesized that sexism toward women has seven components and, accordingly, items were written to reflect these. It is suggested that scales measuring only one of these components (e.g., sex-role stereotype scales and women's liberation movement scales) lack content validity as measures of sexism. On empirical grounds it is argued that the SATW scale also has stronger construct validity as a measure of sexism toward women than other such scales. The SATW scale has high internal consistency reliability for both college students and nonstudent adults and the SATW scale scores are independent of social desirability scores. Relationships to age, sex, and education are presented.
The Effect of the Sexual Composition of a Group on Discrimination Against Women and Sex-Role Attitudes
Authors: Toder Nancy L.
Published: July 2006

This study examined discrimination against women and endorsement of sex-role attitudes as a function of sex composition of group and sex of subject. Undergraduates (116 female and 55 male) were placed in mixed-sex or all-women groups and administered a modification of the journal articles used by Goldberg (1968) and a Sex-Role Attitude Questionnaire developed by the author. Both females and males in the mixed-sex groups evaluated the female-authored articles less favorably than the identical male-authored articles. In contrast, subjects in the all-women groups did not show sex discrimination in their evaluations. Sex-typed appropriateness of the article topics was not an important variable mediating the devaluation of the female-authored articles. Female subjects in mixed-sex groups endorsed more profeminist ideas on the Sex-Role Attitude Questionnaire than did male subjects, and there was a nonsignificant trend for women in the all-women groups after reading female-authored articles to endorse more profeminist ideas than did the women in the mixed-sex groups or in the all-women groups after reading male-authored articles. Results suggest that participation in an all-women's group may elicit a more positive image of other women and contribute to more egalitarian perceptions and behaviors.
A Developmental Exploration of Friendship Functions in Women
Authors: Candy Sandra Gibbs , Troll Lillian E. , Levy Sheldon G.
Published: July 2006

Interpersonal attachments in adulthood were explored through the investigation of the friendship functions in 172 women from 14 through 80. A priori functions were rated by the respondents on a Likert-Scale for their five best friends. Factor analyses revealed three orthogonal factors which characterized friendship for all age groups, “intimacy-assistance,” “status,” and “power.” One way analyses of variance (function by age groups) found no significant age differences between age groups for the function of “intimacy-assistance.” Significant differences for the functions of “status” and “power” were, however, apparent. Women from adolescence through the fifties rated their friends as decreasingly less important for “status” purposes, while women sixty and over rated this function very highly. “Power” decreased with increasing age through the fifties. There was a slight nonsignificant increase in the 60+ age group. These findings are discussed in relation to cognitive changes and developmental issues within various life-stages.
The Effect of Sex of Participants on Decision Making in Small Teacher Groups
Authors: Inwald Robin Hurwitz , Bryant N. Dale
Published: July 2006

In order to examine the effect of sex of participants on the decision making in small groups, 240 experienced public high school teachers were separated into groups of four, with two males and two females in each group. Half of the teacher groups worked on the same school faculties, while the others were unacquainted with each other. Half of the groups in each setting completed an educationally-related ranking task, while the other half completed a noneducationally-related ranking task. While no significant differences were found between the number of initial suggestions made by males and females which the group accepted, males made significantly more accepted final arguments for items on the ranking tasks than did females ( p < .01). No significant differences were found between groups according to the type of task (educational or noneducational) completed, or familiarity of subjects (same or different school faculties). Results were interpreted in terms of traditional roles and modeling for males and females.
Occupational Achievement Motivation as a Function of Biological Sex, Sex-Linked Personality, and Occupation Stereotype
Authors: Garland Howard , Smith Gail Berwick
Published: July 2006

Predicted sex differences in occupational achievement motivation based on the work of Horner (1968) and Stein, Pohly and Mueller (1971) were examined by administering questionnaires to 87 female and 91 male undergraduate psychology students. Subjects made six achievement related responses to twelve occupations which had been stereotyped by a separate group of subjects as being either high prestige masculine, middle prestige masculine, middle prestige feminine or middle prestige androgynous (appropriate for both sexes). Analyses of variance were performed on all achievement responses with subjects' sex, sex-linked personality (Spence, Helmreich & Stapp, 1974), and occupational stereotype as independent variables. Significant sex by occupation stereotype interactions were found on all six dependent measures supporting the Stein et al. prediction of highest achievement motivation toward sex appropriate occupations. The fact that females did not show significantly lower motivation than males toward high prestige masculine occupations is inconsistent with earlier findings. Sex-linked personality was related to some of the achievement measures but did not interact with either occupation stereotype or biological sex.
Sex Bias in Research Design
Authors: Grady Kathleen E.
Published: July 2006

Feminist criticisms of selected aspects of research methods in psychology are presented. Data relevant to sex bias in topic selection, subject selection and single-sex designs, operationalization of variables, testing for sex differences, and interpretation of results are reviewed. Suggestions for achieving more “sex fair” research methods are discussed in terms of a more meticulous application of scientific method and an awareness of the sometimes subtle ways in which a sexist culture influences the research process.
Research on Teaching the Psychology of Women
Authors: Johnson Marilyn
Published: July 2006

Research into the impact of psychology of women courses (and women's studies, generally) has been conducted only infrequently. The literature consists largely of anecdotal reports of changes in attitudes toward women as a function of participating in such courses. Existing quantitative studies are usually limited to measures of pre-course to post-course attitude changes, and occasionally such changes are related to demographic factors. The purpose of this article is to review current studies and to suggest additional research approaches in this area. At least three methods are recommended for studying the effect of psychology of women courses. First, there is a need for comparative studies of two types: psychology of women course vs. other course comparisons, and psychology of women course vs. other related experiences (consciousness-raising groups, feminist therapy, etc.). Second, there is a need for follow-up assessment of students in these courses. Finally, in both the comparative and follow-up studies, behavioral measures should be used.
Male and Female Assumptions About Colleagues' Views of Their Competence
Authors: Heilman Madeline E. , Kram Kathy E.
Published: July 2006

In an attempt to determine what working men and women believe their male and female colleagues think of them, an experiment was conducted with 100 insurance company employees. They were led to believe that their (fictional) co-workers were male or female and, after working jointly on a task, were told that their joint performance was “poor” or “superior.” Subjects were then asked to indicate their perceptions of how their co-workers viewed them. Results indicated that, as predicted, women anticipated more negative reactions than men, both in the degree of responsibility that would be attributed to them for the pair's success or failure and in descriptions with respect to achievement-relevant attributes. This perception of negativity prevailed whatever the sex of the coworker. The results were considered in terms of the self-fulfilling cycle that such perceptions are apt to create for women in work settings.
Married Women's Achievement and Career Motivation: The Influence of Some Environmental and Psychological Variables
Authors: Farmer Helen S. , Fyans Leslie J.
Published: July 2006

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationships of some environmental and psychological variables to the career and achievement motivation of married women who had returned to college after an absence (N = 162). Subjects were grouped into first- and second-year students and by sex type (i.e., Androgynous, Feminine). Correlations for all groups indicated that either psychological or environmental variables were significantly related for some group to the motivation variables. Multivariate analyses for sex-typed groups supported the correlational findings for first-year subjects. These findings suggested the importance of including both types of variables in research investigating the career and achievement motivation of college reentry women. This was an exploratory study and researchers are urged to replicate it with larger, more representative sample.
The Power War: Male Response to Power Loss Under Equality
Authors: Kahn Arnold
Published: July 2006

As many authors have pointed out, the relationship between the sexes is based on power, males having greater power than females. The continuing demand by women for equality is actually a demand for equal power, and if these strivings are successful, they will mean a loss of power for men. The male response to this anticipated power loss is the focus of this analysis. First, the scope of male power is described. Second, the importance of power to men is analyzed in terms of the male sex-role stereotype and the metamorphic effects of power use (Kipnis, 1976). Third, some likely responses of men to a loss of power are hypothesized. Finally, some suggestions for future research are outlined.
Women, Men, and Intimacy Motivation
Authors: Mark Elizabeth Wyner , Alper Thelma G.
Published: July 2006

Using a projective method with college students, this study assessed sex differences in the motivation to share personal concerns in a friendship context. As expected, women were found to be significantly more likely than men to imagine that they would confide worries to a friend (Intimacy Imagery). Women's Intimacy Imagery stories included positive outcomes significantly more often than did men's Intimacy Imagery stories, and the theme of self-enhancement as a consequence of confiding occurred in one-quarter of the women's Intimacy Imagery stories and in none of the men's. For men, Intimacy Imagery was associated with high social confidence and a strong preference for confiding in women. For women, stories suggesting avoidance of confiding or anxiety around confiding were associated with low social confidence.
Childhood Antecedents of Adult Women's Masculinity, Femininity, and Career Role Choices
Authors: Metzler-Brennan Elizabeth , Lewis Robin J. , Gerrard Meg
Published: July 2006

This study explores the relationships among childhood activities, masculine and feminine characteristics, and career choices. Sixty-three career women and 62 homemakers ranging in age from 34 to 48 completed a retrospective survey of their childhood activities, interests, aspirations, and academic pursuits. The toys, games, activities, and aspirations listed by the subjects were then assigned masculinity and femininity scores and were used to predict (1) career choice (homemaker or career woman) and (2) current masculinity and femininity as measured by the Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ). Adult masculinity was strongly predicted by childhood masculine interests and activities while adult femininity was only weakly predicted by childhood feminine interests and activities. Masculine interests/activities were more powerful in discriminating career women from homemakers than were feminine interests/activities. The results of this study indicate that childhood participation in sex-typed activities is associated with the adult personality characteristics of masculinity and femininity, and adult role choices. These results are discussed in light of longitudinal evidence that suggests that they reflect consistent life-long patterns.
Gender Differences in Depressive Symptoms: Statistical Considerations
Authors: Golding Jacqueline M.
Published: July 2006

Large community studies of depressive symptomatology provide mixed evidence concerning gender differences. The present paper investigates the effect of the high skewness typically present in distributions of depressive symptom scores on findings of a gender difference in depression. Because of this skewness, a few extreme scores among women (or in any subgroup) can produce a significant between-groups difference in untransformed scores even when the two groups' distributions are otherwise similar. Data from a community survey ( n = 1316) are consistent with this hypothesis. The data also suggest that gender increases depression scores indirectly, rather than directly, for the few women scoring in the extreme upper tail of the distribution. It is concluded that the gender difference in depressive symptoms lacks robustness, and that when it does occur, the effect of gender on depression can be understood as indirect, i.e., as mediated by gender differences in rate of employment, job status, education, and income.
The Relation of Self-Efficacy and Assertiveness to Willingness to Engage in Traditional/Nontraditional Career Activities
Authors: Nevill Dorothy D. , Schlecker Debra I.
Published: July 2006

The relation of self-efficacy and assertiveness to the willingness of women to engage in traditional or nontraditional career activities was studied. One hundred and twenty-two undergraduate females took the Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale (Taylor & Betz, 1983) and the Assertive Behavior Assessment for Women (Osborn & Harris, 1975) and were asked to rate their willingness to engage in the career-related activities of ten traditional and ten nontraditional occupations for women. Strong self-efficacy expectations and assertiveness were related to the willingness to engage in the career-related activities of nontraditional occupations, but not traditional ones. However, regardless of level of self-efficacy or of assertiveness, women were more willing to engage in the career-related activities of traditional occupations. Implications of the results for career counseling are discussed.
Avoidance Strategy Use in the Intimate Relationships of Women and Men From Mexico and the United States
Authors: Belk Sharyn S. , Garcia-Falconi Renan , Hernandez-Sanchez Julita Elemi , Snell William E.
Published: July 2006

Avoidance strategy use refers to the techniques that people use to deal with unwelcome requests from other individuals. Previous research has shown that avoidance strategies in intimate relationships vary along two dimensions: compliance and bilateral dimensions. To determine whether individuals from Mexico and the United States differ in their use of these avoidance strategies with their intimate partners, a study was conducted on males and females from Mexico and the United States. The results indicated that women from the United States reported using more nonverbal disapproval and voices objections types of avoidance strategies with their intimate partners than did women from Mexico and men from both the United States and Mexico. The discussion focuses on the use of social influence strategies among men and women from Mexico and the United States.
Self-Esteem and Sex-Role Attitudes: A Comparison of Italian- and Anglo-Australian Adolescent Girls
Authors: Grieve Norma , Rosenthal Doreen , Cavallo Antoniette
Published: July 2006

Two groups of 15-year-old girls, one Italian-Australian (IA, n = 60), and one Anglo-Australian (AA, n = 48), were compared on self-esteem and a wide range of measures associated with sex roles, including sex-role satisfaction, sex-role orientation, and assessment of and attitudes toward sex-role differentiation in the family and the culture. Self-esteem and sex-role satisfaction did not differ in the two groups. Nor were there differences in attitudes toward sex-role differentiation, even though cultural and familial differentiation were greater in the IA group and males were accorded relatively more value. However, the groups did differ in the pattern of variables associated with self-esteem and with these sex-role measures. In the more traditional IA subculture, girls' sex-role attitudes correlated with situational constraints. Unlike the AA girls, self-esteem was, in part, associated with stereotypic feminine attributes and preoccupations, and conformed to the androgyny model of well-being. In the AA group, sex-role attitudes and self-esteem were associated with perceptions of personal qualities valued in the broader, more egalitarian culture, such as intellectual ability and masculinity, thus confirming the masculinity model.
Social Evaluations of Assertiveness: A Critique and Speech Act Reformulation
Authors: Gervasio Amy Herstein , Crawford Mary
Published: July 2006

A conceptual and methodological critique of recent research on the social evaluation of assertive speech demonstrates that while the research is internally valid within its narrow sphere, it lacks ecological validity, cannot adequately explain important phenomena such as gender differences, and leads to misguided clinical prescriptions. An alternative theoretical framework, based on speech act theory, is proposed. Assertiveness is viewed as a style of conversation occurring in complex interpersonal contexts. Such analysis encompasses an understanding of the grammar and speech acts used in assertive conversation, as well as the social roles (including gender and status relationships) that are created and maintained through conversational interaction. As women represent the majority of clients and consumers of assertiveness therapies, the interests and concerns of women are a special focus of the suggestions for increasing the ecological validity and clinical relevance of future research.
Friendly or Sexy?: It May Depend on Whom You Ask
Authors: Saal Frank E. , Johnson Catherine B. , Weber Nancy
Published: July 2006

A set of three studies replicated and extended Abbey's (1982) research, indicating that men perceive less friendliness, but more sexuality than women when observing women's social interactions. Study 1 was based on 49 previously unacquainted male-female pairs who engaged in brief face-to-face discussions, and 48 males and 61 females who observed one of those discussions. Study 2 was based on videotaped exchanges between a male store manager and a female cashier, and Study 3 between a male professor and a female student; 75 males and 88 females participated in Study 2, while 98 males and 102 females participated in Study 3. In all three studies, the men saw less friendliness, but more “sexiness” in the woman's behavior than the women. These results support the idea that some of the less severe forms of sexual harassment in business and academic settings may be better understood eventually through research and theory development that considers these sex differences in social perceptions.
Do Research Reports in Mainstream Feminist Psychology Journals Reflect Feminist Values?
Authors: Walsh Richard T.
Published: July 2006

Core values in feminist approaches to psychological research include attention to the relationship between scientists and citizens. But traditional methodological norms dictate that investigators restrict citizens' participation in research and prescribe an impersonal, decontextualized writing style in journal reports. Content analysis of 228 research articles in two journals associated with feminist psychology—the Psychology of Women Quarterly and Sex Roles, spanning the journals' first decade—showed that authors typically provided minimal or no information about such relationship dimensions as level of participation, informed consent, and feedback. The depersonalized writing style generally employed gives the impression that some feminist psychologists have adopted androcentric standards for the research relationship. Developing appropriate models for both research methods and report writing is essential for feminist researchers to resolve the apparent contradiction between ideals and behavior. But certain institutional obstacles need to be overcome for the resolution to occur.
New Voices, New Visions: Toward A Lesbian/Gay Paradigm for Psychology
Authors: Brown Laura S.
Published: July 2006

This article proposes an alternative model for psychological inquiry based in the experiences of lesbians and gay men. I propose that there are three elements that cross-situationally define a lesbian and gay reality: biculturalism, marginality, and normative creativity. Each of these elements is explored with examples of how these perspectives might alter the way that certain dominant notions about human relationships are understood. The article closes with questions regarding the application of this lesbian and gay paradigm to methodologies for inquiry. The relationship between a lesbian/gay paradigm for psychology and feminist questions regarding epistemology is also explored.
Questionnaire Studies of Paramenstrual Symptoms
Authors: Richardson John T. E.
Published: July 2006

A number of formal questionnaires have been devised to study paramenstrual symptomatology. It has been suggested that women's responses to these questionnaires are vulnerable to forgetting and contaminated by culturally induced expectations. Nevertheless, concurrent reports of experienced symptoms may correlate highly with retrospective judgments, even when the relevance of the menstrual cycle is disguised. They also differentiate between women with and without a self-reported history of premenstrual symptoms, although concurrent reports across several menstrual cycles are impractical to collect and may be inconsistent between successive cycles. A number of methodological criticisms have been directed toward the most commonly used device, the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire. In principle, however, retrospective questions offer a reliable and accurate indication of women's experience during the normal menstrual cycle.
Division of Household Labor, Strain, and Depressive Symptoms Among Mexican Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites
Authors: Golding Jacqueline M.
Published: July 2006

This article presents preliminary tests of the hypothesis that household labor serves as a source of strain and is indirectly associated with depressive symptoms. It also examines associations of gender and Mexican–American ethnicity with housework, household strain, and depressed mood. Respondents are 668 Mexican Americans and 394 non-Hispanic whites. Because respondents are randomly selected community residents and are married, average strain and depressive symptom levels are low. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that housework affects depressed mood indirectly, through household strain. Among women, housework is associated with an increased likelihood of household strain, which, in turn, is associated with depressive symptoms. Among men, housework is unrelated to household strain, but household strain is associated with depressed mood. Although ethnicity and gender are associated with household division of labor, with more traditional patterns among Mexican Americans, ethnicity does not modify associations among housework, household strain, and depressive symptoms.
Psychotherapists' Knowledge About and Attitudes Toward Sexual Assault Victim Clients
Authors: Dye Ellen , Roth Susan
Published: July 2006

The present research investigated the question of how therapists' attitudes toward sexual assault victims predict their inferences about and treatment of clients. In addition, this study asked the following questions: (a) What percentage of female psychotherapy clients have been victims of sexual assault? (b) What treatment approaches are therapists using with victims and what attitudes toward victims do these therapists hold? (c) On the average, which demographic groups of therapists hold the most positive views of victims and are the most knowledgeable about working with victims? The results of the study indicated that therapists who held negative attitudes toward victims were more likely to endorse victim-blaming themes and therapeutic treatments which blame victims for sexual assault. Of therapists' current female clients, 18.5% ( n = 257) had been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives. On the average, therapists were knowledgeable about working with victims and showed positive attitudes toward victims.
Contextual History: A Framework for Re-Placing Women in the History of Psychology
Authors: Bohan Janis S.
Published: July 2006

The absence of women from published histories of psychology is addressed from a perspective that makes sense of women's place in the history of psychology, including their participation, their exclusion, and their invisibility. This approach is based on principles of social constructionism and on a contextual approach to history that seeks to understand women's place in psychology as a product of socially constructed notions of gender, psychology, and history. The article suggests that an awareness of the context created by these constructions explains women's role in psychology to date and holds promise for their meaningful inclusion in the future.
Domestic Division of Labor Among Working Couples: Does Androgyny Make a Difference?
Authors: Gunter Nancy C. , Gunter B. G.
Published: July 2006

This study examined the relationship of gender and sex role orientation (SRO) to the domestic division of labor in 139 working couples. Couples completed the Bem Sex Role Inventory as well as questions about who performed domestic tasks, why, and the amount of conflict generated. While women performed more tasks than men, androgynous and feminine-oriented individuals performed more than masculine-oriented individuals. Androgynous individuals also experienced the least conflict over domestic tasks. In couples where the male was androgynous or feminine in SRO, both spouses performed more tasks than spouses in undifferentiated male dyads. In male sex-typed dyads, however, wives performed more tasks than wives in other dyads, while husbands performed less than husbands in other dyads. Women's motivation to perform these tasks was based on their belief that it was their responsibility or that the tasks wouldn't get done otherwise, while men reportedly performed domestic tasks to help out.
Career Developments and Transitions of Middle-Aged Women
Authors: Ackerman Rosalie J.
Published: July 2006

Job transition behaviors of women ( N = 71; M = 42.5 yrs.) in their middle years of professional careers who had changed jobs within the previous 3 years were investigated. They were employed in a major utility company in a midwestern city where 11% of the jobs had been eliminated. The women were classified according to job transition attitudes and behaviors into groups labeled Wanters–Planners or Creators ( n = 12); Wanters–Nonplanners or Maintainers ( n = 15); Nonwanters–Planners or Conventionalists ( n = 28); and Nonwanters–Nonplanners or Reactors ( n = 16). Significant differences were obtained from three developmental perspectives: Person, Situation, and Person-by-Situation aspects of job-leaving/job-procuring behaviors. Three multivariate analyses of variance were followed by appropriate one-way analyses of variance and post hoc chi-square and Tukey's tests to identify the variations among the groups. Three multivariate discriminant analyses correctly classified the women into the four groups.
Lifelong Physical Activity in Midlife and Older Women
Authors: Dan Alice J. , Wilbur JoEllen , Hedricks Cynthia , O'Connor Eileen , Holm Karyn
Published: July 2006

The need for measures of physical activity in women led to this descriptive study of 375 women aged 33–62 (mean age 47±7 years). A questionnaire was developed to assess levels of lifelong physical activity (LLPAQ) with three subscales: occupation, leisure, and household. Reliability as determined by Cronbach's alpha ranged from .83–.87, while test–retest correlations ranged from .46–.57 for the subscales and total score. Correlations of the LLPAQ with cardiorespiratory fitness were positive, with a shift from highest correlation between fitness and leisure physical activity ( r = .26–.29, p < .05) in younger women, to highest correlation between fitness and occupation physical activity ( r = .29–.38, p < .05) in women over 50. Patterns of physical activity over the lifespan were different for each subscale; total scores showed a peak in overall physical activity between ages 25–39, and a steep decline after age 39, due to small decreases on each subscale. Relevance of a measure including household physical activity to document lifelong levels of physical activity for health studies of women is discussed.
Midlife Women's Political Consciousness: Case Studies of Psychosocial Development and Political Commitment
Authors: Stewart Abigail J. , Gold-Steinberg Sharon
Published: July 2006

Midlife women's political consciousness may be importantly influenced by a preoccupation with generativity. Analysis of three case studies suggests the importance of several elements for a developmental perspective on women's (and perhaps men's) midlife political activity: childhood family political ideology; earlier adolescent and adult political activity; influences of particular social and historical events at different developmental stages; a desire to be generative or to “make a contribution”; experiences as a parent; and access at midlife to time, energy, and personal resources. In addition, the importance of defining “political activity” broadly, and in the terms meaningful to women themselves, is underlined. Finally, the satisfaction associated with recognizing the continuity in one's life commitments must be appreciated as one element of women's midlife political consciousness.
Women Growing Stronger with Age: The Effect of Status in the United States and Kenya
Authors: Todd Judith , Friedman Ariella , Kariuki Priscilla Wanjiru
Published: July 2006

Previous research suggests that there is a shift in the perceived balance of interpersonal power in the second half of life in favor of older women, towards equality between men and women. To see if this age shift in power is universal, a study of women in two cultures, the United States and Kenya, examined the effect of status on the shift. As an indirect measure of interpersonal power, Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) stories were collected from 60 U.S. and 60 Kenyan women and rated by trained judges for aspects of the interpersonal power of the characters in the stories. In each country there were two groups of 15 women under age 36 and 15 women over age 44, one of higher and one of lower status. In both countries, only the higher status women showed the shift in power with age. That status modulated the shift in power with age in two different cultures is discussed in terms of the necessity for a resource base for power.
Women in A Nursing Home: Living with Hope and Meaning
Authors: Brody Claire M.
Published: July 2006

A series of reminiscing-type groups for women in a nursing home is described. The purpose of this project is to use a qualitative methodology for exploring feelings and providing emotional catharsis in a population stereotyped largely by hopeless affect and lack of meaning in their lives. The women in the groups varied widely in physical and cognitive abilities; many were confused and memory-impaired. A rationale is provided for the therapist/leader's directive approach in the context of an egalitarian, feminist orientation. Results point toward an increase in interaction with others in the nursing home environment, more self-awareness and self-esteem, and a heightened empathy for other group participants. Annotated excerpts from three group sessions are included.
A Short History of the Future: Feminism and Clinical Psychology
Authors: Marecek Jeanne , Hare-Mustin Rachel T.
Published: July 2006

Since the 19th century, feminists have criticized the mental health establishment and its treatment of women. Issues include the sexist use of psychoanalytic concepts and psychiatric diagnoses, the misuse of medication, and sexual misconduct in therapy. Feminists have also called attention to psychological problems arising from gender inequality in everyday life. Physical and sexual abuse of women is of special concern. Feminist innovations in therapy include consciousness-raising, sex-role resocialization, and new approaches to psychoanalysis and family therapy. We urge feminists to develop a fuller understanding of gender and power, and to use this knowledge to challenge the established theory and practice of clinical psychology.
Women and the American Psychological Association
Authors: Hogan John D. , Sexton Virginia Staudt
Published: July 2006

Women have been active in the American Psychological Association (APA) almost from the beginning. In general, however, they did not attain high-level office, editorships, and significant committee posts at the same level as their male counterparts. During one 51-year period, for example, no women were elected to the APA presidency. Despite protests, little changed. Finally, in the 1970s, the climate in the APA shifted. The Committee on Women in Psychology was formed, as was the APA Division of the Psychology of Women. From then on, women's issues have remained an important concern of the association.