Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to develop and implement an instrument to analyze stories written by children to determine if sex-stereotyped roles were apparent in the main characters they created. The Analysis of Character Traits (ACTS) was developed utilizing selected criteria identified in studies in which adults' stories for children were analyzed for sex stereotyping. Three research hypotheses were tested to determine if there was a significant relationship between the presence of stereotyping in main characters and the sex of the authors. The following conclusions were made: (1) male and female authors almost exclusively tended to create both stereotyped and non-stereotyped characters of their own sex; (2) sex stereotyping occurred in the characters created by both male and female authors to the same extent; and (3) differences in the profiles of male and female characters were present.