A short-term training program to decrease sex-role stereotyping toward women.

Abstract

No significant difference was noted in the experimental group's attitude change scores. However, a significant positive effect was noted in the experimental group's behavior. No significant difference was noted between the experimental and control groups' atttitude change scores. It was concluded that while attitudes actually did not appear to change as a result of the training program, participants' behavior toward women apparently became less stereotyped following the training program. This study assessed the attitude and behavior changes of participants following an experiential, one-day training program on decreasing sex-role stereotyping toward women. Eleven female and ten male community college students comprised the experimental group which was compared to a similar control group of twenty-eight female and eighteen male community college students on the attitude changes as measured by the Attitudes Toward Women Scale (Spence and Helmreich, 1972a and 1972b). The research adapted the Behavioral Rating Scale utilized by Katz (1975) to assess any behavior changes between the experimental group's pre and post measures and the Attitudes Toward Women Scale to assess any changes between the experimental group's pre and post attitude measures.