TY - JOUR

T1 - Playing the part

T2 - Children's willingness and embarrassment to play gender stereotype-violating roles

AU - Parks-Stamm, Elizabeth J.

AU - Leuthold, Clarissa

AU - Schuster, Carolin

AU - Day-Murray, Kathleen

AU - Martiny, Sarah E.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 British Psychological Society.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Although anticipated affect has been shown to influence young adults' willingness to engage in counter-stereotypic fields of study and careers, research has not yet explored whether elementary school children also anticipate negative affect for violating gender norms. The present studies explored elementary school students' knowledge of gender stereotypes, anticipated embarrassment and willingness to play counter-stereotypic characters in a play. In Study 1 (N = 56, Mage = 9.46 years) and Study 2 (N = 49, Mage = 9.52 years), children anticipated more embarrassment and were less willing to play a character with gender stereotype-incongruent behaviours and roles, compared to gender stereotype-congruent characters. In Study 3 (N = 47, Mage = 11.43 years), children anticipated more embarrassment and were less willing to play a character with a stereotype-incongruent occupation compared to gender stereotype-congruent occupations. In a combined analysis across the three studies, knowledge of gender stereotypes predicted children's embarrassment to play counter-stereotypic roles. The results are discussed with respect to the development of gender norms and occupational aspirations in children.

AB - Although anticipated affect has been shown to influence young adults' willingness to engage in counter-stereotypic fields of study and careers, research has not yet explored whether elementary school children also anticipate negative affect for violating gender norms. The present studies explored elementary school students' knowledge of gender stereotypes, anticipated embarrassment and willingness to play counter-stereotypic characters in a play. In Study 1 (N = 56, Mage = 9.46 years) and Study 2 (N = 49, Mage = 9.52 years), children anticipated more embarrassment and were less willing to play a character with gender stereotype-incongruent behaviours and roles, compared to gender stereotype-congruent characters. In Study 3 (N = 47, Mage = 11.43 years), children anticipated more embarrassment and were less willing to play a character with a stereotype-incongruent occupation compared to gender stereotype-congruent occupations. In a combined analysis across the three studies, knowledge of gender stereotypes predicted children's embarrassment to play counter-stereotypic roles. The results are discussed with respect to the development of gender norms and occupational aspirations in children.

KW - backlash

KW - children

KW - counter-stereotypical

KW - development

KW - gender role violation

KW - gender stereotyping

KW - K-12 education

KW - occupational aspirations

KW - Psychology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105022169491&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/bjdp.70025

DO - 10.1111/bjdp.70025

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 41250943

AN - SCOPUS:105022169491

JO - British Journal of Developmental Psychology

JF - British Journal of Developmental Psychology

SN - 0261-510X

ER -