BEYOND GENDER STEREOTYPES - SPOUSE CAREGIVERS OF PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA

This study used data from 215 spouse caregivers of persons with dement ia to examine if gender was a salient dimension in the ways that Afric an-American and white caregivers think about caregiving. Gender role s tereotypes were reported by half of the 215 respondents. Many caregivi ng husbands and wives viewed caregiving in terms of emotional characte ristics, household/childcare tasks, and physical strength. There were sex and race differences in these perceptions of caregiving work. Male and African-American caregivers were more likely to deny any differen ce between being a male or female caregiver than their counterparts. M ale caregivers Mere less likely to refer to caregiving in terms of emo tional work. African-Americans of both sexes were more likely to minim ize gender differences than whites when mentioning household/childcare work. Black wives were much less likely than white wives to mention p hysical strength.