TARGETS AND PERCEIVERS OCCUPATION AND GENDER AS DETERMINANTS OF SOCIAL JUDGMENTS

This study investigated how inferences are influenced by the targets' and subjects' occupation and gender. Two hundred and forty male and fe male subjects enrolled in studies geared towards traditionally feminin e or masculine occupations were presented with a description of one of four targets: A male target studying a traditionally masculine occupa tion, a male target studying a traditionally feminine occupation, a fe male target studying a traditionally masculine occupation and a female target studying a traditionally feminine occupation. Subjects made in ferences about the femininity and masculinity of the targets' traits, roles and physical appearance (three components of the gender stereoty pe). Results indicated that both occupational information and the gend er of the target were related to the inferences. However, their relati ve importance depended upon the particular gender component. Additiona lly, subjects studying a gender-counterstereotypic field showed less s tereotypic inferences.