Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

1990

Thesis Director

Melanie McKee (Mills)

Abstract

This study observed the present conditions of attitudes toward gender roles, as communicated by caregivers in eight east central Illinois preschool settings. Two research questions were formulated in order to categorize responses for the purpose of identifying prevailing gender role attitudes. Those questions were: "How do caregivers in a preschool setting affect gender role stereotypes?" and "What are key communication events that may create or perpetuate gender role stereotypes in the preschool setting?" The data was obtained from personal interviews and the Bem Sex Role Inventory. The results indicated caregivers in the preschool setting did not see gender roles and gender role stereotypes to be of major concern to children on the preschool level of development. However, examples of gender role stereotyping was identified from interview responses .

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