A Comparative Study of Sex Role Typing in Sixth Grade Children and Its Relation to Self Concept
Ju Ok Lee
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare sex role typing in relation to self-concept in 6th graders by to their residential area. The subjects were 6th grade children: 126 boys and 127 girls. The sample included 85 (42 boys, 43 girls) from a farming area, 111 (62 boys, 49 girls) from Pohang City, and 57 (22 boys, 35 girls) from a fishing area. The instruments used in this study were Shiffler`s self-concept measure (Suh, 1980) and Bem Sex Role Inventory (Byun, 1979). Statistical analysis of obtained data was by X² test; 2 (sex) × 3 (residential area) × 4 (sex role category) ANOVA; and Scheffe′ test. The results were as follows: Girls from the fishing area were more masculine than girls from other areas. Androgynous children and urban children demonstrated a higher self-concept. There was no difference in level of self-concept between urban boys and girls, but boys in both farming and fishing areas demonstrated a higher level than girls. In all 3 areas, androgynous children evaluated themselves positively whereas undifferentiated children evaluated themselves negatively. There were significant differences in self-concept according to sex, living area, and sex role category. In the city, the feminine category was related to a negative self-concept while the masculine category was related to a negative self-concept in the fishing area. But in the farming area, feminine boys demonstrated a higher self-concept whereas feminine girls demonstrated a lower self-concept.