Abstract

Two sets of software developed for early reading instruction (top rated and best selling) were reviewed and evaluated for gender portrayal of central and secondary characters of the opposite sex. Male central characters were present in 37% of the top-rated computer software and in 63% of the best selling software. Female central characters were observed in 16% of the top-rated software and 11% of the best selling software. The lack of consistency between children's software requires further investigation. In a more positive vein, when central characters and secondary characters of the opposite sex were compared for salient characteristics that could be classified as sex role stereotyping, no differences were observed.