Occupational Sex-Role Stereotyping in the Middle School
Authors:   , Nordby Steven 
Published: February 2023

The purpose of the researcher was to investigate occupational sex-role stereotyping in 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students. The independent variables investigated were: gender, grade level, self-reported grades, participation in career planning activities, family structure, job status of the mother, participation in extracurricular activities and size of school. The dependent variable was Occupational Sex-Stereotyping scores. The sample consisted of 178 middle school students. Six composite null hypotheses were tested at the .0500 level. Each composite null hypothesis was tested employing a three-way analysis (general linear model). A total of 26 comparisons were made plus 16 recurring. Of the 26 comparisons 8 were for main effects and 18 were for interactions. Of the 8 main effects, 3 were statistically detectable at the .0500 level. The statistically detectable main effects were for grade level, job status of the mother and self reported grades. The results indicated the following for main effects: 1. students enrolled in the 9th grade had a statistically larger mean Occupational Sex - Stereotyping score than students enrolled in the 8th grade, 2. students whose mothers did not work outside the home had a statistically larger mean Occupational Sex - Stereotyping score than students whose mothers worked full-time outside the home, and 3. students who reported grades of \S and C\ had a statistically larger mean Occupational Sex - Stereotyping score than students who reported \All A's\ and \A's and S's\. Of the 18 interactions, 4 were statistically detectable at the .0500 level. The following interactions were detectable: 1. the independent variables gender and school size for the dependent variable Occupational Sex - Stereotyping scores, 2. the independent variables gender and job status of the mother for the dependent variable Occupational Sex - Stereotyping scores, 3. the independent variables grade level and school size for the dependent variable Occupational Sex - Stereotyping scores, 4. the independent variables gender, school size and grade level for the dependent variable Occupational Sex - Stereotyping scores, The results of the present study appeared to support the following generalizations: 1. students who reported grades of B and C have more occupational sex-role stereotyping than those with grades of “AII A's\ and \A's and B's” 2. gender and school size should be interpreted concurrently for occupational sex-role stereotyping , 3. gender and job status of the mother should be interpreted concurrently for occupational sex-role stereotyping, 4. grade level and school size should be interpreted concurrently for occupational sex-role stereotyping, 5. gender, school size and grade level should be interpreted concurrently for occupational sex-role stereotyping, 6. participation in career planning activities of 7th, 8th and 9th graders is not associated with occupational sex-role stereotyping, 7. family structure of 7th, 8th and 9th graders is not associated with occupational sex-role stereotyping, and 8. participation in extracurricular activities 7th, 8th and 9th graders not associated with occupational sex-role stereotyping.