PRESCHOOL GENDER &
FAMILY STEREOTYPES
Graham-Bermann,
S. A., Bermann, E. A., & Moses, R.
(2001)
This measure consists of two gender identification questions, six gendered family role questions (items 3-8), ten violence in the family questions (items 9-18) and ten power in the family questions (items 19-28). The questions correspond to pictures drawn to illustrate the issues under inquiry (for further information about the picture cards email the Webmaster or see Intervention Programs). The measure is designed to provide a score of the child’s gender stereotypes for mothers and for fathers. This measure was created for use with a study of 250 three year old children enrolled in Head Start programs.
Scoring of items takes the form of a three-point scale ranging from 0 to 2, with No equal to zero, One for Some of the Time and Two for Most of the Time. Thus, the subscale score of the six items rated for gender stereotyping ranges from 0 to 18. The violence privilege subscale score ranges from 0 to 30 (reverse score items 13 and 14), and the power in the family subscale score ranges from 0 to 30. A total gender, power and family violence stereotypes score is obtained by adding all three subscale scores.
PRESCHOOL GENDER & FAMILY STEREOTYPES
INSTRUCTIONS
Following the child’s assent to participate and parental permission, a sheet with two figures (one adult male, one adult female) is presented to the child. The child is asked "Which one is the mommy?" then "Which one is the daddy or the man in the house?". Circle whether the child gives the correct response by identifying the female doll as the mommy and the male doll as the daddy or man in the family. If the child answers incorrectly, the interviewer should then tell the child. "THIS is the mommy – you can tell because she is wearing a dress or skirt. THIS is the daddy or the man - you can tell because he is bigger and wearing pants." Check to see whether the child can now make the proper identification of the mommy and the daddy/man. Circle the correct answer
Then say, "Now I am going to show you some pictures and ask you questions about the pictures. Okay? Are you ready?" Show the child the series of pictures, one at a time, asking the child the questions associated with each picture. Record the child’s responses on the right side of the scoring sheet. If the child is somewhat non-verbal you can point to the appropriate figure each time you ask about "mommies" or "daddies", saying simply "Do mommies…" while pointing to the mommy figure for the child to remind the child you are asking about mommies.
If the child first indicates that "mommies" or "daddies" engage in the behavior by answering with a "yes", you follow with the question "How much of the time do mommies do (this behavior)? Some of the Time or Most of the Time? Point to the words Some or Most when you say this. Circle the child’s response.
If the child responds to the initial stem with a NO, then move on to the next question and do not inquire about how much of the time. In essence we are creating a three point scale, with no being zero, one for Some of the Time and two for Most of the Time.
Now show the first picture, ask the question, and record the child’s response by circling the given response.
PRESCHOOL GENDER & FAMILY STEREOTYPES
Scoring Sheet
1. Which one is the mommy? Incorrect Correct
2. Which is the daddy or man in the house? Incorrect Correct
3. Do mommies feed the baby?
No
Yes
3a. If yes, how much of the time is it mommies who feed the baby?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
4. Do daddies feed the baby?
No
Yes
4a. If yes, how much of the time is it daddies who feed the baby?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
5. Do mommies wash the dishes?
No
Yes
5a. How much of the time is it mommies who wash the dishes?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
6. Do daddies wash the dishes?
No
Yes
6a. How much of the time is it daddies who wash the dishes?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
7. Do mommies make the most money?
No
Yes
7a. How much of the time is it mommies who make the most money?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
8. Do daddies make the most money?
No
Yes
8a. How much of the time is it daddies who make the most money?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
9. Do mommies yell at the kids?
No
Yes
9a. How much of the time is it mommies who yell at the kids?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
10. Do daddies yell at the kids?
No
Yes
10a. How much of the time is it daddies who yell at the kids?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
11. Do mommies spank the kids?
No
Yes
11a. How much of the time is it mommies who spank the kids?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
12. Do daddies spank the kids?
No
Yes
12a. How much of the time is it daddies who spank the kids?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
13. Do mommies hug and kiss the other person?
No
Yes
13a. How much of the time is it mommies who hug and kiss the other person?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
14. Do daddies hug and kiss the other person?
No
Yes
14a. How much of the time is it daddies who hug and kiss the other person?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
15. Do mommies yell at the other person?
No
Yes
15a. How much of the time is it mommies who yell at the other person?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
16. Do daddies yell at the other person?
No
Yes
16a. How much of the time is it daddies who yell at the other person?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
17. Do mommies hit the other person?
No
Yes
17a. How much of the time is it mommies who hit the other person?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
18. Do daddies hit the other person?
No
Yes
18a. How much of the time is it daddies who hit the other person?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
19. Are mommies the boss of the family? (in charge of, or tells the family what to do?)
No
Yes
19a. How much of the time is it mommies who are the boss of the family?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
20. Are daddies the boss of the family?
No
Yes
20a. How much of the time is it daddies who are the boss of the family?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
21. Are mommies the boss of the kids?
No
Yes
21a. How much of the time is it mommies who are the boss of the kids?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
22. Are daddies the boss of the kids?
No
Yes
22a. How much of the time is it daddies who are the boss of the kids?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
23. Are mommies the boss of themselves?
No
Yes
23a. How much of the time is it mommies who are the boss of themselves?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
24. Are daddies the boss of the mom?
No
Yes
24a. How much of the time is it daddies who are the boss of the mom?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
25. Are mommies the boss of the dad?
No
Yes
25a. How much of the time is it mommies who are the boss of the dad?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
26. Are daddies the boss of the themselves?
No
Yes
26a. How much of the time is it daddies who are the boss of themselves?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
27. Are mommies the boss of the TV?
No
Yes
27a. How much of the time is it mommies who are the boss of the TV?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
28. Are daddies the boss of the TV?
No
Yes
28a. How much of the time is it daddies who are the boss of the TV?
Some of the Time
Most of the Time
Added Instructions:
- Every child can be expected to know the first questions about which
is the mommy and which is daddy or the man of the house. More than one
hundred preschool-age children without cognitive impairments have been
able to answer these questions, to date.
- The next questions about who feeds/feeding the baby, washing the dishes,
and making the money are all straight forward enough. To date, in our
research study, almost every child can answer these items. However,
the interviewer may experience difficulty with the part a.) of each
question. It is possible that the child may not understand the wording
"How much of the time is it mommies/daddies who feed the baby? Most
of the time or just some of the time?", even after using the chart as
illustration. The following prompts are recommended: "How much is it
that mommies feed the baby? A lot of the time, or just a little of the
time?" Be sure to include time in that wording so the child will not
think you are asking about a quantity of food being fed, or the amount
of dishes being washed. It also was found helpful to use arm gestures
to illustrate the difference between a lot of the time or a little bit
of the time.
- The next items about yelling and spanking are understood by most preschoolers,
as are the questions about hugging and kissing and yelling and hitting
on the behalf of the mommies and daddies/men of the house. One exception
here is the wording "the other person". Some children may find this
to be confusing. The interviewer can then say, "do daddies hug and kiss
mommies?" or "do mommies hug and kiss daddies?".
- The most difficult area, particularly for three year olds, lies in
the construct of "the boss of…." the family. etc. It is recommended
that you try using "in charge of" and "in control of" if you need to
make the question more clear to the child. The most difficult questions
ask whether the mommies or daddies are the boss of themselves. Two suggested
prompts are: "Are mommies in control of what they do?" and/or "Are
mommies in charge of what they do?"
- The final questions about the TV are readily answered by most preschool children and end the assessment on a familiar and positive note.
Again, please contact the Webmaster should you elect to use this measure in your program evaluation or research.