LINKING PERSONAL VALUES TO GENDER

Two studies were conducted to investigate the relation between persona l values and aspects of gender Study 1 used the Rokeach Value Survey ( RVS) to examine the nature of stereotypes concerning the values of the ''typical man'' and the ''typical woman''. Results supported the hypo thesis that men are viewed as more likely to endorse agentic values, s uch as freedom and accomplishment, whereas women are viewed as more li kely to endorse communal values, such as friendship and equality. Stud y 2 assessed men and women's possession of stereotypic sets of masculi ne and feminine values, using the RVS, and examined their relation to gender-related personality traits, gender-related interests and role b ehaviors, and global self-perceptions of masculinity and femininity. M asculine values were found to be significantly related to socially des irable masculine traits, socially undesirable masculine traits, mascul ine interests and a global self-concept of masculinity. Feminine value s were shown to be significantly related to socially desirable feminin e traits, feminine interests feminine role behaviors, and a global sel f-concept of femininity. These results suggest that gender-linked pers onal values merit inclusion with traits, interests role behaviors, and global self-concepts as part of an emerging multidimensional concepti on of gender characteristics.