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The present study examined the discrepancy in the literature regarding the absence of gender differences in the stability of same-sex close friendships. One hundred and twenty children and adolescents (60 females and 60 males) from three grade levels (5, 7, and 9) participated in the study. An interview measure was developed to assess for the level of intimacy, the social context in which the friendship occurred (dyad vs. group), and perceptions of equality of achievement for both current and former same-sex close friendships. Intimacy and equality are features most closely associated with the social context of girls' same-sex friendships. It was theorized that the more intimate, dyadic nature of girls' friendships would contribute to interpersonal difficulties within their friendships. Individual interviews were conducted with each participant. It was hypothesized that girls' close friendships would be more unstable than those of boys and that girls' friendships would show more signs of vulnerability to dissolution. Statistically significant gender differences were obtained, that were consistent with the hypothesis, when only the very closest same-sex friend for both genders was included in the analyses. Girls' current same-sex closest friendships were shorter in duration compared to boys, girls' were more likely than boys to report that their current closest friends had already done something to threaten their friendship, and girls' were more likely to report a history of break ups with former same-sex close friends. Girls were also more likely to report greater distress when asked to imagine the potential dissolution of their current friendships and more likely to both anticipate and to have experienced a greater life change following the imagined and actual dissolution of their current and former friendships, respectively. The results are discussed in terms of the possible reasons behind the greater fragility of girls' friendships rela

The hypothesis that self-handicapping is used differentially by men and women was examined in a naturalistic setting. It was expected that the importance of an exam would be a better predictor of self-handicapping for men, whereas stress was predicted to be a better indicator of self-handicapping for women. College students were assessed the class period prior to a mid-term exam. Participants completed a packet of questionnaires that assessed level of stress, self-handicapping tendencies, anticipated handicaps, perceived importance of the exam, the consequences of their performance (i.e. success or failure), and expected performance. The results did not support the hypotheses. However, there is some evidence that the process of self-handicapping is different for men and women. Discussion focuses on explanations for the lack of hypothesized gender interactions, the self-protective utility of self-handicapping and construct validity of the Self-Handicapping Scale (SHS). / Department of Psychological Science

This study utilizes the 10th-12th-grade panel from the National Educational Longitudinal Study (NEIS:88) to examine the gender-gap in educational expectations. The study uses regression analysis to determine whether background, academic, social, and career variables affect educational expectations differently for males and females and whether these differences can explain the gender-gap in educational expectations. Socio-economic status and having professional career aspirations have stronger effects on educational expectations for males. However, no significant sex differences were found in the effects of academic ability and achievement, parents' expectations, or peer engagement on students' educational expectations. The results also indicate that females have higher educational expectations because they have higher academic ability and achievement; parents and peers have higher expectations for them, and they are more likely to have professional career aspirations than their male peers. / Department of Sociology

Since the early 1970's numerous researchers have been questioning the existence of sex differences in causal attribution. From those who claim differences exist, three models have been proposed: the general externality model, the female self-derogation model, and the female low expectancy model. This study proposed that two variables, sex role and task investment, might mediate the relationship between sex and causal attribution. A structural equation model was proposed and analyzed using LISREL VII (Joreskog & Sorbom, 1989).For this study, 208 undergraduate psychology students were asked to complete the following: a demographic sheet, the Personal Attributes Questionnaire (Spence, Helmreich, & Stapp, 1975), a task investment measure created for this study, a short performance task (10 mathematics or anagram problems), and the Causal Dimension Scale (Russell, 1982).Results did not support the proposed overall model; however, some findings were significant. First, women were more likely to make unstable attributions for success than were men, consistent with the female low expectancy model, but the difference was very small. Also, in the failure condition, masculinity was negatively correlated with stability.Second, women reported being more invested in the tasks and said they had more experience at these tasks than did the men. Additionally, femininity was positively correlated with task investment, contrary to predictions. Finally, outcome was correlated with all three causal attribution dimensions. The perception of success was positively correlated with higher internal, stable, and controllable attributions, suggesting a type of self-enhancement bias for both sexes. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-119).

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-119). Also available in print.

M.A. (Afrikaans) / The women's liberation movement, which had its origins in the seventies, produced a number of intellectuals who have been actively campaigning for the eradication of sexism in especially the American society ever since. In terms of this movement, language is deemed to provide the very paradigm within which gender inequality is set to flourish unchecked. One of the principal aims of the movement is, therefore, to eliminate all grammatical forms in terms of which women, trapped in a traditionally male-dominated world, are being ignored, slighted, degraded and stereotyped. Soon, several publishers started introducing and organising women's study series and workshops on sexism at conferences on language and sociology. In the wake of that, a great number of publications, in which language inequalities are scientifically described, have appeared already. In addition, many articles and books were published in which guide-lines were laid down for the avoidance of sexist lexical items in the English language, which has since gained the unfortunate distinction of being labelled the most sexist language. The emphasis in the present study will, however, not fall on the ideology underlying the women's liberation movement, but on the many publications on language sexisms that had been prompted by it. Language planning and change naturally play a crucial part in all publicatlons on language sexisms. The general sociolinguistic supposition about language change is that it is prompted by change in the social structure of a society. The advocates of the development of a non-sexist language, however, appeal to the Whorf hypothesis, in terms of which the language structure of a society is deemed to reflect and facilitate its world view. According to the champions of the said hypothesis, however, the reverse of this argument should also hold good, namely that a change in the language structure of a society should bring about an inevitable change in its world view. On the strength of the latter hypothesis, alternatives are suggested for all sexist lexical items, so that v the new-found non-sexist language could help society to create a non-sexist social structure. A definition of the term language sexism has been formulated in the present study, based on the conclusions reached in research articles. The conclusion drawn is that the term sexism could only be applied in respect of language usage relating to women. Although feminists have even coined such phrases as male chauvinist pig, the literature that was taken into study (with the possible exception of that generated by Hauptfleisch, 1989), made no mention whatsoever of the possibility that male terms' could also be considered sexist. Current research projects and existing publications on language sexisms are mainly in English. With the exception of Liebenberg (1976), the few existing research studies in Afrikaans deal with specific topics, such as sexisms in translation practice or teaching material. In the present study, however, the researcher has endeavoured to describe the specific nature of those sexisms found in the Afrikaans lexicon.

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