bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social Support Network Differentials Among Married and Nonmarried Black Females
Authors: Brown Diane Robinson , Gary Lawrence E.
Published: July 2006

Being married has generally been associated with better mental health for adult females, in part because of the social support derived from a primary network relationship. Without the benefit of a spouse, it would be expected that nonmarried adult females would have fewer sources of social support and concomitantly lower levels of psychological well-being. Focusing on selected network characteristics, this study analyzes the differences in social support available to a sample of 91 married and 183 nonmarried Black females residing in a metropolitan area. Results indicate that having a spouse has little influence on the number of socially supportive relationships or the most important sources of assistance with financial problems. A marital partner is a source of emotional support for married Black females, but only for less than one-third. Family members and extended kin are major sources of social support for Black females, irrespective of marital status.
Family and Job Influences on Role Satisfaction of Employed Rural Mothers
Authors: McKenry Patrick C. , Hamdorf Kent C. , Walters Connor M. , Murray Colleen I.
Published: July 2006

One hundred fifty rural employed mothers were surveyed to determine family and job predictors of satisfaction with the dual-work role. Findings indicated the saliency of job satisfaction variables in determining role satisfaction among this group of women as opposed to hypothesized reference group support variables and nontraditional value orientation variables. Discussion centered on the importance of employment outside the home to life satisfaction, particularly for mothers of older children.
Sex Role Orientation and Type a Behavior Pattern
Authors: Auten P. Douglas , Hull Debra B. , Hull John H.
Published: July 2006

Male and female college students completed the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) and the Jenkins Activity Survey, a part of which is the Type A Scale. Correlational results showed that as Type A scores increased, BSRI scores decreased (more masculine sex role orientation). Analysis of variance showed that males and females with masculine sex role orientations (SROs) had significantly higher Type A scores than those with androgynous SROs, who in turn had significantly higher Type A scores than those with feminine SROs.
Improving Women's Performance in Mixed-Sex Situations by Effort Attributions
Authors: LaNoue Joan B. , Curtis Rebecca C.
Published: July 2006

Seventy-two males and 72 females in either mixed-sex, same-sex or alone situations were led to fail on an initial task. Prior to a second task, they were given either a neutral orientation or an ego-involving orientation emphasizing attributions to effort. Without the effort attribution, women in the mixed-sex situation had lower expectations than men, performed worse, rewarded themselves less and attributed their poor performance to a lack of ability more than men did. In the same-sex and alone situations, however, the women's expectations, performance and self-reward did not differ between the effort and neutral conditions, nor did their behaviors differ from the men's. The men's expectations, performance, and preference for task difficulty attributions were not affected by the experimental manipulations. These data demonstrated the benefit of “attribution therapy” for women working in the presence of men.
The Effects of Wives' Employment on Husbands' Job and Life Satisfaction
Authors: Staines Graham L. , Pottick Kathleen J. , Fudge Deborah A.
Published: July 2006

Previous research has established that wives' employment has a negative effect on the mental health of husbands. This result is not yet well understood. Analyzing survey data from a national sample of workers, this study focuses on the work domain to investigate this result further. Findings reveal that wives' employment has negative effects on husbands' job and life satisfaction. These results suggest that the overall negative mental health effect may derive, in part, from the occupational domain.
Age and Gender Dimensions of Friendship
Authors: Fox Margery , Gibbs Margaret , Auerbach Doris
Published: July 2006

Since stereotypes about appropriate social behavior appear to influence questionnaires and other self-reported data concerning friendship, an in-depth interview format was used to explore gender and age differences in friendship patterns. Thirty-one subjects were interviewed: five young males, six young females, five midlife males, five midlife females, five older males, and five older females. As in our previous questionnaire studies, groups described friendship in superficially similar ways. However, in the taped interviews, large gender differences appeared that followed conceptually along instrumental/expressive dimensions. Women at all ages were more expressive in their friendships, showing higher levels of empathy and altruism than men. Age differences also appeared, with men developing increased concern and thoughtfulness in friendship with greater age, and women showing more tolerance and less confrontation of their friends with greater age.
The Prospect of Parenthood For Women and Men
Authors: Gerson Mary-Joan
Published: July 2006

This study, which involved older subjects of both sexes (113 women, 75 men) and variables drawn from a psychodynamic perspective, is an extension of an earlier investigation that explored parenthood motivation in young women. Though feminism was not significantly related to motivation for older subjects of either sex, in both investigations psychological variables accounted for greater variance in female motivation than did demographic variables. The uniquely significant psychological variables in this investigation were narcissism, self-esteem, and memories of father's love. However, demographic variables alone accounted for differences in male motivation. Perceived importance of having a child to the fulfillment of life values was studied as well, with self-esteem, judged effect on one's own parents, and age as instrumental variables for women, and religious background, socioeconomic status, age, and marital status as key correlates for men.
The Influence of Mother-Daughter Relationships on Women's Sense of Self and Current Role Choices
Authors: Sholomskas Diane , Axelrod Rosalind
Published: July 2006

This study investigates the relationship of women's current role choices, role satisfaction, and self-esteem to their perceptions of the earlier relationship with their mothers and to their perceptions of their mothers' role choices and role satisfaction. Sixty-seven married women with preschool children were interviewed and completed self-report inventories. Results indicated that the women's primary role decisions of career, non-career work, or homemaking did not parallel those of their mothers but was related to their mothers' messages to them. In addition, career women and women at home reported having more choice in their decisions than did non-career working women. Women's self-esteem and role satisfaction were significantly enhanced ( p < .05) when the relationship with the mother was perceived as loving and accepting, with low hostility and low psychological control. In contrast, women's self-esteem and role satisfaction were generally unrelated to the retrospective reports of the mothers' roles and role satisfaction.
Sex Differences in Conformity: Status and Gender Role Interpretations
Authors: Eagly Alice H. , Chrvala Carole
Published: July 2006

The experiment examines status and gender role explanations of the tendency for women to conform more than men in group pressure settings. Subjects believed they were assigned to groups containing two males and two females in addition to themselves and received these other group members' opinions, which were represented as deviating from the opinions that subjects had given earlier. Subjects then gave their opinions with the other group members either having or not having surveillance over these opinions. In addition, subjects were required to form impressions of each other's likability or expertise. The findings indicate that subjects' sex and age affected the extent of their conformity. Among older (19 years and older) subjects, females conformed more with surveillance than without it, whereas surveillance did not affect males' conformity. Among younger (under 19 years) subjects, surveillance had no effects. Analysis of sex differences revealed that older females were significantly more conforming than older males when under surveillance as well as when subjects formed impressions of one another's likability. Among younger subjects, there were no sex differences. These findings are discussed in terms of the theories that (a) both sex and age function as status characteristics and (b) gender roles determine conformity.
Gender Stereotypes, Occupational Roles, and Beliefs About Part-Time Employees
Authors: Eagly Alice H. , Steffen Valerie J.
Published: July 2006

Subjects' beliefs about the communion and agency of part-time employees were compared with their beliefs about the communion and agency of homemakers, full-time employees, and persons without an occupational description. Female part-time employees were believed to be more communal and less agentic than female full-time employees as well as less communal than female homemakers. Male part-time employees were believed to be less agentic than male full-time employees as well as less communal and less agentic than both male homemakers and men without an occupational description. In addition, subjects believed that part-time employment is associated with different life situations for women and men. For women this situation is substantial commitment to domestic duties, whereas for men it is difficulty in finding full-time employment. These findings support the theory that stereotypes concerning the communion and agency of women and men are a product of the social roles that women and men have been observed to occupy.
Social Stimulus Perception and Self-Evaluation: Effects of Menstrual Cycle Phase
Authors: Alagna Sheryle W. , Hamilton Jean A.
Published: July 2006

Women in different phases of the menstrual cycle were compared to each other and to men in their responses to a social interaction stimulus: a videotape depicting a female nurse interacting with a hospitalized patient. Sex differences and cycle-phase differences were found for both affective and cognitive dimensions. Premenstrual women reported feeling more dominant, energetic, indifferent, negative, and somewhat more tense than women menstruating or women in the intermenstrual cycle phase. However, they did not differ from men in their affective ratings. Premenstrual women evaluated the nurse as less attractive than did men and they attributed greater responsibility for the nurse's behavior to the patient than men and intermenstrual women. Women in all groups evaluated the nurse as nicer and more pleasant, interesting, concerned and self-assured than did men. All women also felt more friendly toward the nurse and reported that they would be more comfortable asking her questions than the men did. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Mathematics and Self-Esteem: Implications for Women's Career Choice
Authors: Singer Joan M. , Stake Jayne E.
Published: July 2006

The relationship of math participation and success to self-esteem and career goals is examined in a sample of 64 women and 52 men college students at the end of their sophomore year. No gender differences were found in math anxiety or perceptions of the usefulness of mathematics, but women were less likely to select a math-related career goal. Among the men students, math participation and self-assessments of math ability were positively related to more general self-estimates of competence; among women, these variables were not related significantly. Women's choices for math-related careers were more closely associated with scholastic ability and math background than were men's career choices. These results are discussed in the context of societal pressures and supports for men and women in regard to math participation.
Correlates of Sex-Typing in FIJI
Authors: Basow Susan A.
Published: July 2006

The effects of sex-typing on self-esteem, achievement orientation, and attitudes toward women were examined in Fiji using 600 secondary school and 240 university students. As Spence and Helmreich (1978) found in the U.S., sex-typing effects were strong on all variables, with Androgynous and Masculine students scoring highest on Self-esteem, Mastery, Work Orientation and Competitiveness, and Undifferentiated students scoring lowest. Sex-typing interacted with sex on the Attitudes Toward Women Scale. The effects were stronger among secondary school students than among university students. As in the U.S., sex differences were less marked than sex-typing differences, although there were fewer sex differences on these measures in Fiji than in the U.S. The importance of instrumental traits in achievement orientation and self-esteem was confirmed in a vastly different cultural setting, suggesting the possibility of pancultural generality of sex-typing effects.
Sex-Role Identity, Gender Identity, and Self-Schemata
Authors: Hungerford Joan K. , Sobolew-Shubin Alexandria P.
Published: July 2006

Forty females and 40 males were shown slides of masculine and feminine phrases controlled for social desirability, sex-linked content, syllable length, and negative semantic construction to evaluate schematic processing on the dimensions of masculinity and femininity. Their responses to the phrases were timed. The BSRI, PAQ, and SSRIQ administered subsequent to the slide presentation were used to categorize subjects into groups of masculine, feminine, androgynous, and undifferentiated. Comparisons between the groups evaluated by the different scales indicated that the PAQ was the best predictor of schematic processing and that the SSRIQ and gender were not predictors of schematic processing. Correlations between the SSRIQ and the masculine and feminine scales of the BSRI and PAQ provided evidence partially supportive of Storms's (1979) theory that sex-role identity influences the development of same-sex-typed attributes but does not influence opposite-sex-typed attributes.
Sex Discrimination in Hiring: The Influence of Organizational Climate and Need for Approval on Decision Making Behavior
Authors: Katz David
Published: July 2006

It was hypothesized that an organization's climate could inhibit or encourage discriminatory behavior, and that subjects' need for approval would interact with climate to influence their decisions. One hundred and sixty-one male business students read one of two sets of materials intended to manipulate company climate, and then evaluated a fictitious resume of a male or female applicant for a managerial position within the company. Decisions regarding hire, salary, applicant fit with the company, and anticipated longevity were dependent measures. The hypothesis regarding organizational climate received partial support. In a discriminatory climate women applicants were evaluated less favorably than men in terms of likelihood of hire and degree of fit between the applicant and the organization. Although not statistically significant, a similar pattern of results was obtained on the salary measure and on the measure of applicant predicted longevity. Contrary to expectations, approval motivation was not related to the dependent measures.
Gender Belief Systems: Homosexuality and the Implicit Inversion Theory
Authors: Kite Mary E. , Deaux Kay
Published: July 2006

Beliefs about the characteristics of male and female homosexuals and heterosexuals were assessed to determine the degree to which stereotypes of homosexuals are consistent with the inversion model proposed by Freud (1905) and others, i.e., the assumption that homosexuals are similar to the opposite-sex heterosexual. Results showed that people do subscribe to an implicit inversion theory wherein male homosexuals are believed to be similar to female heterosexuals, and female homosexuals are believed to be similar to male heterosexuals. These results offer additional support for a bipolar model of gender stereotyping, in which masculinity and femininity are assumed to be in opposition.
Perceptions of Sex Discrimination Among Female University Faculty and Staff
Authors: Reid Pamela Trotman
Published: July 2006

Sixty faculty and staff women at a mid-sized university were surveyed to determine the extent to which they perceived sex discrimination. Faculty women perceived sex discrimination more than did staff women and were less likely to believe that academia was a meritocracy. Differences in perception of sex discrimination were also found based upon the gender composition of the departments. Women in departments that were male-dominated were less likely to perceive sex discrimination and more accepting of the meritocracy notion than were women in departments that were not male-dominated.
Daily Hassles and Coping Strategies of Dual-Earner and Nondual-Earner Women
Authors: Alpert Dona , Culbertson Amy
Published: July 2006

Comparisons were made of dual-earner and nondual-earner women's stress and coping strategies. A questionnaire was developed from the Hassles Scale (Kanner, Coyne, Schaefer, & Lazarus, 1981) and the Ways of Coping Checklist (Folkman & Lazarus, 1980). Dual-earner women reported significantly more hassles than nondual-earner women. However, there were no significant differences on intensity level of these hassles. Several between- and within-group differences on coping strategies were found. Both groups tended to use more problem-focused coping strategies than emotion-focused coping strategies and, contrary to expectations, both groups expressed overall satisfaction with their coping strategies.
The Dilemma of the Gifted Woman
Authors: Noble Kathleen D.
Published: July 2006

The abilities of highly capable women have rarely received serious recognition, support, or guidance. Although there is increasing interest in attracting women to positions of social, political, educational, and scientific leadership, many obstacles inhibit women from realizing their potential in these areas. These obstacles include: confusion about the meaning and nature of giftedness; psychological and cultural barriers to owning and displaying one's abilities; and ambivalent attitudes of peers, parents, and significant others toward exceptional ability in women. This paper encourages feminist psychologists to respond to this population's unique affective needs, and focuses on recognizing, understanding, and furthering exceptional ability in women in the face of gender-role stereotyping and cultural pressures.
Sex Roles and Perceptions of Femininity and Masculinity of Hispanic Women: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Vazquez-Nuttall Ena , Romero-Garcia Ivonne , Leon Brunilda De
Published: July 2006

This article evaluates the research conducted on sex roles and perceptions of femininity and masculinity of Hispanic women. It begins with a critical review of early social and anthropological studies in which the roles of Hispanic women before the advent of the women's movement in the 1960s are described. The paper continues with more recent psychosocial studies that question the traditional portrayal of male-female roles and allocation of power in Hispanic families. Finally, the studies on Hispanics that measure the psychological dimension of femininity and masculinity are reviewed and summarized in a table including authors, sample, methodology and results.
Stranger and Acquaintance Rape: Are There Differences In the Victim's Experience?
Authors: Koss Mary P. , Dinero Thomas E. , Seibel Cynthia A. , Cox Susan L.
Published: July 2006

Most published research on the victim–offender relationship has been based on small samples that consisted mainly of women who were raped by nonintimate and nonromantic acquaintances, who viewed their experience as rape, and/or who were seeking treatment. In the present study, 489 rape victims were located among a national sample of 3, 187 female college students by a self-report survey that avoided reliance on helpseekers. Two sets of comparisons were performed. First, the experiences reported by victims of stranger rape ( n = 52) were compared with those of victims of acquaintance rape ( n = 416). Then, the experiences of women assaulted by different types of acquaintances were compared including nonromantic acquaintances ( n = 122), casual dates ( n = 103), steady dates ( n = 147), and spouses or other family members ( n = 44). Rapes by acquaintances, compared with strangers, were more likely to involve a single offender and multiple episodes, were less likely to be seen as rape or to be revealed to anyone, and were similar in terms of the victim's resistance. In general, acquaintance rapes were rated as less violent than stranger rapes. The exception was rapes by husbands or other family members which were rated equally violent to stranger rapes but were much less likely to occur in a context of drinking or other drug use. In spite of these different crime characteristics, virtually no differences were found among any of the groups in their levels of psychological symptoms. A significant feature of these data is that they have tapped the experiences of unreported and unacknowledged rape victims, a group that is potentially much larger than the group of identified victims.
Women's Psychological Adjustment Following Emergency Cesarean Versus Vaginal Delivery
Authors: Padawer Jill A. , Fagan Corey , Janoff-Bulman Ronnie , Strickland Bonnie R. , Chorowski Max
Published: July 2006

The present study was designed to investigate possible differences in psychological adjustment and satisfaction between women delivering vaginally and those delivering by emergency cesarean section. Women's satisfaction with the birth experience was distinguished from postpartum psychological adjustment, as measured by depression, anxiety, and confidence in mothering ability. Twenty-two women who delivered vaginally and twenty-two women who delivered by emergency cesarean section were selected according to stringent criteria, to control for factors known to be associated with positive cesarean outcomes. Significant differences were found in level of satisfaction, with cesarean mothers reporting less satisfaction with the delivery than vaginal mothers. However, no differences were found between the groups on the three measures of psychological adjustment. Under optimal conditions, cesarean deliveries are not associated with adverse early postpartum psychological adjustment.
Beliefs About the Consequences of Maternal Employment for Children
Authors: Greenberger Ellen , Goldberg Wendy A. , Crawford Thomas J. , Granger Jean
Published: July 2006

A 24-item scale was developed to measure Beliefs about the Consequences of Maternal Employment for Children (BACMEC), including beliefs about both benefits (13 items) and costs (11 items). Studies of five samples ( n = 375) demonstrate that the total BACMEC scale and its sub-scales are highly reliable and have good convergent, divergent, and concurrent validity. Scores on the Costs Subscale predicted greater sex-role traditionalism, women's employment status (not employed), and an older age of child at which mother's employment was deemed acceptable. Benefits scores predicted women's employment status (employed) and work hours (longer), younger age of child when maternal work is acceptable, and greater support for policies to aid working parents. The scales were not susceptible to a social desirability bias. Suggestions are provided for the use of the BACMEC scale in future research concerning employment and families.
Changes in the Facial Prominence of Women and Men Over the Last Decade
Authors: Nigro Georgia N. , Hill Dina E. , Gelbein Martha E. , Clark Catharine L.
Published: July 2006

Two studies measured the facial prominence of women and men in popular images over the last decade. The first study used 1,200 photographs from Time and Newsweek for the years 1970 and 1980. The results indicate that overall, men have received greater facial prominence than women, and facial prominence has increased over the decade. Only for Newsweek did women show a significantly greater increase in facial prominence than men. The second study used 640 photographs from Good Housekeeping and Ms. for the years 1974 and 1984. The results show that overall, men have received greater facial prominence than women, and facial prominence has risen over the decade, although not by much. In Ms., women but not men gained; in Good Housekeeping, women gained slightly, but not as much as men. The results are consistent with earlier reports of an asymmetry in representation of men's and women's faces and suggest that this asymmetry is slowly diminishing.
The Inferiority Curriculum
Authors: Bernard Jessie
Published: July 2006

Bernard looks back at the last decade and notes that although many things have improved, women at all levels in academia still face more subtle forms of discrimination, which comprise what she calls the “Inferiority Curriculum.” Exposure of these subtle discriminatory behaviors is gradually occurring through what Bernard has termed the “Feminist Enlightenment,” a discipline-by-discipline process which began in the mid-1960s. Bernard documents many “down-putting” behaviors that continue to undermine women's achievement and argues the necessity of overcoming the damage by building positive self-images among women.
Women, Work, and Family: Bernard's Perspective on the Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Voydanoff Patricia
Published: July 2006

This essay reviews and synthesizes Jessie Bernard's writings on women, work, and family. Bernard's conceptualization of “two worlds”—one of women and one of men—provides the organizing theme, from which three major issues are derived: (a) the dilemmas of caring, (b) the feminization of work, and (c) work and family roles over the life course. Examining her historical perspective on these issues, her view of the present, and her vision of the future, the article raises unanswered questions in Bernard's work and suggests implications for future research on women's work and family roles.
Defining Disability for Women and the Problem of Unpaid Work
Authors: Reisine Susan T. , Fifield Judith
Published: July 2006

National policy and much of scholarly research on disability overlook the importance of unpaid family work and instead focus on disability in paid work, largely in male samples. Because of societal expectations about appropriate social roles for men and women, women tend to assume responsibility for unpaid work in the family and also tend to have paid work that is characterized by low pay and limited autonomy. This article discusses the political, theoretical, and methodological issues relating to defining and measuring paid and unpaid work disability for women and men within the context of these structural factors. The results of a study analyzing disability in both paid work and unpaid family work among a sample of 206 women with rheumatoid arthritis are presented. The study demonstrates the feasibility of measuring disability in family work and shows that women experience significant limitations in homemaker functioning as well as in paid work roles.
Developmental Issues in the Treatment of Diabetic Women
Authors: Hartman-Stein Paula , Reuter Jeanette M.
Published: July 2006

The physiological and psychological effects of diabetes on women show changes with age. Behavioral interventions on behalf of diabetic women must be based on an understanding of these life span changes. A review of selected articles from the medical and psychological literature that focus on special issues for a diabetic woman during preadolescence, adolescence, and adulthood is presented. Recommendations are made for behavioral interventions with diabetic women in regard to “sick” role adjustment, peer conformity pressures, eating disorders, sexuality, and pregnancy.
Considerations for Prevention of HIV Infection Among Hispanic Women
Authors: Amaro Hortensia
Published: July 2006

Data on the characteristics of individuals diagnosed with AIDS show that Hispanic women, men, and children are overrepresented. In order to effectively reduce the risk of HIV infection in Hispanic communities, prevention programs must take into account characteristics of Hispanic populations that differentiate them from the general population and that reflect the social and economic contexts that shape the realities of Hispanic women's lives.
Emotional Sequelae of Abortion: Implications for Clinical Practice
Authors: Lemkau Jeanne Parr
Published: July 2006

The literature is summarized on normative reactions to abortion and factors that increase risk of negative emotional sequelae. Four areas of inquiry for identifying psychotherapeutic issues in regard to abortion are elaborated, including: (a) characteristics of the woman prior to and at the time of the abortion, (b) the nature of social support and the cultural milieu around the abortion, (c) characteristics of the medical environment and abortion procedure, and (d) events subsequent to the abortion which may have aroused post-decisional conflict. The implications of the research literature for psychotherapeutic treatment of women who have had abortions are discussed.
Gatekeeping Transactions: Women's Resource Acquisition and Mental Health in the Workplace
Authors: Wallston Barbara Strudler , Hoover-Dempsey Kathleen V. , Brissie Jane S. , Rozee-Koker Patricia
Published: July 2006

This research explored gatekeeping transactions of professional women in selected occupational fields. Subjects were asked to keep daily records on strategies they used to gain needed resources from other people in their workplace. Characteristics of gatekeeping transactions were studied as potential stressors that might affect specific indicators of mental health. Results suggest that differences in levels of job satisfaction and substance use can be predicted by specific characteristics of gatekeeping transactions, such as total number of transactions, number of strategies used per transaction, negativity of transactions, and gender and role status of gatekeeper. Patterns of influence strategies used by the subjects are discussed, as are implications for future research on gatekeeping transactions in relation to professional women's mental health and job satisfaction.
Job Characteristics and Well-Being at Midlife: Ethnic and Gender Comparisons
Authors: Crohan Susan E. , Antonucci Toni C. , Adelmann Pamela K. , Coleman Lerita M.
Published: July 2006

Lacking in the research on work and well-being is a focus on the characteristics of the employment role that contribute to well-being and their differential relations across ethnicity and gender. White and Black women and men at midlife (ages 40–64) were studied. The samples were drawn from two national surveys and included 186 White women, 202 White men, 254 Black women, and 169 Black men. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to assess the relation of work commitment, job satisfaction, role stress, occupational status and personal income to perceived control, life satisfaction, and happiness. Marital status, age, and hours worked were included as control variables. Results indicate that job satisfaction is positively related to life satisfaction for all four groups, and to happiness for White women and Black men. Personal income is positively related to perceived control for Black women and White men, and to life satisfaction for White women. Occupational status is positively related to perceived control for White and Black women; role stress is negatively related to life satisfaction among White men, and to happiness among Black women. Among the control variables, being married is positively related to well-being for all four race-sex groups.
Epistemological Values of Feminists in Psychology
Authors: Ricketts Mary
Published: July 2006

The theoretical orientations and values of North American feminist psychologists were studied by surveying all participants at the 1985 conferences of the Association for Women in Psychology and the Canadian Psychological Association's Section on Women and Psychology. On dichotomous measures of theoretical orientation in psychology, scores of respondents tended to be subjectivist rather than objectivist. Respondents also tended to place more emphasis on the exogenous (external or social) determinants of human behavior rather than the endogenous (internal or biological) determinants. Feminist psychologists also endorsed values about the role of science in society that were consistent with rejection of traditional positivist assumptions about the value neutrality of science. Endorsement of a value-laden concept of science was associated with a preference for subjectivist epistemology. Differences were found between heterosexual and lesbian feminists (the latter group tending to favor a more subjectivist and more exogenist theoretical orientation than the former) and between feminist academics and practitioners (the latter group tending to favor a more subjectivist, but less exogenist, theoretical orientation than the former).
Adolescents' Attitudes Toward Women'S Roles: A Comparison between Israeli Jews and Arabs
Authors: Seginer Rachel , Karayanni Mousa , Mar'i Mariam M.
Published: July 2006

To examine Israeli Jewish and Arab adolescents' attitudes toward women's roles, 319 Jewish and 276 Arab adolescent males and females from private, highly prestigious high schools responded to an attitudes toward women's roles questionnaire. The hypotheses that Jews (modern), females, and older (12th grade) adolescents express more liberal attitudes toward women's roles than do Arabs (transition to modernity), males, and younger (9th grade) adolescents were generally supported by the findings. The greater liberalism expressed by older Arab females indicates that their transition to adulthood is marked by a widening gap between the attitudes toward roles held by Arab males and females. Thus, Arab females striving for personal advancement may experience less support from their male peers than do their Jewish female counterparts.
Is Political Activism Still A “MASCULINE” ENDEAVOR?: Gender Comparisons among High School Political Activists
Authors: Romer Nancy
Published: July 2006

High school political activists (40 female, 46 male) completed extensive questionnaires. Differences between participants with moderate/conservative, liberal, and left perspectives were analyzed as were gender differences on the Bem Sex Role Inventory and other politically associated behaviors. Males and females described themselves as masculine; females also described themselves as feminine. Conservative males described themselves as most masculine and least feminine. No gender differences were found on extent of political activity. But, females were more likely to be active in feminist organizations and causes, to label themselves as feminists, and to describe their mothers as feminists, and were less likely to have a group of friends they hang out with compared to males. Females were more doubtful than males about mixing marriage, children, employment, and politics in the future. Females more often presented future family life as a source of limitation on their political futures compared to males.
Barbara Strudler Wallston: Pioneer of Contemporary Feminist Psychology, 1943–1987
Authors: Russo Nancy Felipe
Published: July 2006

The death of Barbara Strudler Wallston on January 3, 1987, brought to a sudden end the rich and diverse life of a complex personality, who combined scholarship, leadership, and advocacy with a zest for living. A highly productive scholar, inspiring teacher, and feminist leader who loved dancing and music, Barbara Wallston translated her compassion for disadvantaged individuals and commitment to social justice into direct and constructive action. In her too brief 15-year career, she generated more than 70 publications and 94 professional presentations spanning such areas as health, gender, sex roles, sexuality, and social issues. Her extraordinary leadership and scholarly achievements led to her election to Fellow in recognition of “outstanding and sustained national contributions” in five APA divisions. In 1986 she was awarded Division 35's Carolyn Wood Sherif Memorial Lectureship for contributions that continue to enrich and inform the lives of her colleagues, students, and friends, and that have earned her recognition as a pioneer in contemporary feminist psychology.
The Female Role and Menstrual Distress: An Explanation for Inconsistent Evidence
Authors: Heilbrun Alfred B. , Friedberg Lisa , Wydra Dawna , Worobow Alyson L.
Published: July 2006

Numerous studies of either sex role behavior (masculinity/femininity) or women's role attitudes (contemporary/traditional) as related to menstrual distress have amassed inconsistent and contradictory results. It was proposed that these two role variables may hold an interactive relationship with menstrual distress, and their study in isolation may have provoked less reliable results. An interaction was found with masculine women preferring a contemporary role and feminine women committed to traditional role values reporting greater menstrual and premenstrual distress. Feminine contemporary and masculine traditional women revealed less distress associated with the menstrual cycle.
Finished At 40: Women's Development within the Patriarchy
Authors: Gergen Mary M.
Published: July 2006

Psychological theories of women's lives in middle age and beyond are restricted, negative, and scarce. An overview of women's adult development in textbooks and the professional literature indicates that (a) the prevailing focus of concern is the woman as a biological creature, especially as a mother; (b) the proposed lifecycle trajectory is one in which the woman's life goes into decline after approximately age 40; and (c) little attention is paid to the particular character of women's life narratives. Such treatments of adult womanhood are advantageous to a patriarchal system of power. For future inquiry a social constructionist approach is proposed. Recommended are theories that: liberate interpretations of women from an exclusive focus on their reproductive roles; support methodologies along feminist valuational lines; give preference to relational networks over autonomous individualism; create new narrative life forms for women that are multiple and non-linear; and support a critical function both within psychology and in the society at large.
Considering The Social Context in Gender Research: The Impact of College Students' Life Stage
Authors: Frieze Irene Hanson , Sales Esther , Smith Christine
Published: July 2006

Although a large body of research has investigated the possibility of motivational or attitudinal differences in women and men that would explain observable differences in levels of achievement, much of this research has failed to produce the expected results. It is proposed that the failure of researchers to consider the personal and contextual characteristics of their college student samples may have contributed to this lack of results. Some of the relevant variables include those provided by the (lack of) context of the typical laboratory experiment. Other context cues emerge from an analysis of the life stage of the typical research study participant. Predictions about achievement differences across the early adult years are outlined. This same life stage analysis is also briefly applied to other areas of gender research.
Persistence of Men's Misperceptions of Friendly Cues Across A Variety of Interpersonal Encounters
Authors: Johnson Catherine B. , Stockdale Margaret S. , Saal Frank E.
Published: July 2006

This study examined whether gender differences in sexually based perceptions of social interactions persist when traditional male-female power roles are reversed, when the interaction becomes progressively more sexually harassing, and when the response to the harassment is accepting or rejecting. A laboratory experiment was conducted in which 187 female and 165 male undergraduate students viewed a 5-minute videotape. Twelve versions of a scenario depicting a professor interacting with a cross-sex student were created which manipulated the sex of the powerholder, level of harassment, and response to harassment. Results indicated that men perceived the female target as behaving in a “sexier” manner regardless of her status, the level of harassment, or the victim's response. Women's sexually based perceptions of the most harassing male professor were greater than men's, however. Incorporating these gender differences in perceptions into a much-needed comprehensive model of sexual harassment (Zedeck & Cascio, 1984) appears to be warranted.
Feminism and Diversity in Psychology: The Case of Women of Color
Authors: Comas-Díaz Lillian
Published: July 2006

The contributions of feminist psychology to diversity are highlighted, focusing on the example of women of color. A historical overview of the confluence of feminism and ethnicism is provided, stressing the dynamic interplay between these two movements. The relevance of feminist psychology to women of color is assessed in addition to women of color's contributions to feminism. The role of women of color in the transformation and reformulation of an integrative feminist psychology is examined.
Women, Psychology, and Social Issues Research
Authors: Katz Phyllis A.
Published: July 2006

This article reviews the history of women psychologists' contributions to social issues research. The first part describes the work of a few remarkable women in the early part of the century whose scientific participation and feminist orientations were equally unusual. It then focuses on the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), which was founded in 1937, and traces the various stages of women's participation in it, beginning with its essentially all male leadership for over 20 years (with a few notable exceptions), through the flurry of short-lived feminist concerns after World War II, to the dramatic upsurge of female leadership and scholarship of the past two decades. Some potential reasons for the 20-year hiatus between postwar feminist interests and similar concerns in the late 1960s are discussed.
Progress and Prospect
Authors: Worell Judith
Published: July 2006

At the start of the second year with a new Editorial Board, it seems timely to review and examine the progress of the journal in meeting its goals and in serving the needs of constituents. We define constituency within a broad context, including Division 35 members, general readership, aspiring authors and researchers, and the discipline at large, which may influence, and be influenced by, what appears between the covers of the Psychology of Women Quarterly. In this brief commentary, I want to share some information about the general operations of the journal, summarize the editorial changes that have been initiated, and suggest some directions for future contributions.
A Multimethod Attitude Study About Women's Roles and Issues
Authors: Powell Susan R. , Yanico Barbara J.
Published: July 2006

We examined the relationships among college students' attitudes about women's roles and issues measured directly using the Attitudes toward Women Scale (AWS), and indirectly using a free response measure, thought listing. The two types of measures were significantly related for both sexes, but more strongly related for men than for women. Women were more liberal than men in their responses to the AWS and to all thought listing stimuli except the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Interrelationships among responses for different thought listing stimuli were moderate to nonexistent, suggesting that students' attitudes vary greatly depending on the issue or role examined.
Female and Male Perceptions of Ideal Body Shapes: Distorted Views Among Caucasian College Students
Authors: Cohn Lawrence D. , Adler Nancy E.
Published: July 2006

Recent studies have demonstrated that women overestimate male preferences for thin female figures. This study examined whether women also overestimate the desirability of thin figures among female peers. Using body silhouettes employed by Fallon and Rozin (1985), 87 college women and 118 college men indicated the size of their own body figure, their ideal figure, the figure most attractive to other-sex peers, and the figure most attractive to same-sex peers. As predicted, the female silhouette that women selected as most attractive to same-sex peers was significantly thinner than the silhouette that women actually selected as most desirable. College men also misjudged the body preference of same-sex peers, exaggerating the extent to which other men perceived large physiques as ideal and desirable.
Gender Differences and Similarities in Self-Concept Within Everyday Life Contexts
Authors: Stake Jayne E.
Published: July 2006

A stereotypic pattern of gender differences has been found in previous self-concept research. Men have tended to rate themselves higher on self-concept measures of giftedness, power, and invulnerability, and women have rated themselves higher on self-concept measures of likability and morality. This study tested the validity of these gender differences for two natural life contexts—family and work—from the perspective of target persons and others in the family and work contexts who knew the target persons well. Overall, the gender stereotypic pattern of self-concept scores was evident in work and family self-ratings and observer-inferred ratings. Gender accounted for 3–7% of the variance of the five self-concept dimensions for which a significant gender difference was found.
Women and Power
Authors: Griscom Joan L.
Published: July 2006

This article reviews the discussions of power and of women and power in United States psychology. Although the field has had difficulty dealing with power, feminist psychology has focused attention on the topic and has advanced the discussion significantly. There are three problems in the literature: definition; person/society dualism; and the need to deal with race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, and other social differences besides gender. This article describes components needed for a good definition, criticizes the reduction of power to two modes, and discusses issues involved in improving the analysis of social differences and moving towards resolving person/society dualism. Several nondualistic concepts and potentially useful directions are proposed.
Gender and Interruptions
Authors: LaFrance Marianne
Published: July 2006

Does gender affect reactions to violations of expected conversational behavior? This study examined ratings of interactants involved in interruptive exchanges. Audio recordings of two-person interactions that varied in gender composition but were identical in script features were rated by judges on several scales, including the degree to which participants were seen to be argumentative, rude, and assertive. Results showed that interrupter sex did not affect ratings even though interrupters were evaluated differently than those they interrupted. However, gender composition significantly affected two of three derived factors, disrespect and assertiveness, such that when a woman interrupted a man, the pair was rated significantly more disrespectful and assertive than either of the two same-sex pairs. Conversational interruptions that occur among mixed-sex pairs are often interpreted not merely as individual infractions but as an assault on the established power relations.