Gender stereotypes and middle-school children’s self-perception: A comparison of mothers' and their children's reports

Abstract

The present study investigated children’s gender stereotypes in relation with their mothers’ gender stereotypes and their gender. Also, the roles of children’s and mothers’ gender stereotypes and mothers’ perception of their children in predicting children’s self-perception in five competence areas and self-worth beliefs were examined. The data were collected from 270 middle school students and their mothers through schools and home visits. The children’s gender stereotypes were measured with self-developed Gender Stereotype Questionnaire and children’s selfperception was measured with Harter’s Self-Perception Profile for Children; and mothers’ gender stereotypes and their perception of their children were measured with the mother version of the same scales. The child’s gender and mothers’ gender stereotype significantly predicted children’s gender stereotypes. In the second part of the study, the mothers’ perception of their children predicted children’s selfperception in all areas. The mothers’ gender stereotypes was a significant predictor only in scholastic competence while the children’s gender stereotypes only predicted children’s physical appearance beliefs. The interaction between gender and mothers’ perception accounted for children’s scholastic competence and the interaction between gender and children’s gender stereotypes accounted for children’s global self-worth beliefs. These findings indicate the important role of mothers’ perception in children’s self-perception and plot a route for the counseling with the children through getting a support from their mothers.