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Television viewing and adult sex-role attitudes

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Abstract

Although American television programs present highly stereotyped sex roles, no previous studies have shown in adults a relationship between sex-role stereotyping and TV viewing behavior. The present study assessed 78 college students' self-descriptions in relation to their TV viewing behavior. The results indicated that the amount of sex-role stereotyping in self-descriptions was positively correlated with amount of TV viewing of stereotyped programs. These findings were replicated with a group of 19 elderly adults.

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This research was supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation and by a Research Scientist Development Award to D. R. Anderson from the National Institute of Mental Health. The authors would like to thank Diane Field and Jeanne Sanders for their assistance.

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Ross, L., Anderson, D.R. & Wisocki, P.A. Television viewing and adult sex-role attitudes. Sex Roles 8, 589–592 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00289893

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