The acquisition of the gender‐brilliance stereotype: Age trajectory, relation to parents' stereotypes, and intersections with race/ethnicity. Issue 5 (30th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Siqi; Setoh, Peipei; Storage, Daniel; Cimpian, Andrei
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 93:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: e581
• Page End: e597
• Publication Date: 2022-05-30
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13809
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

Abstract: Past research has explored children's gender stereotypes about specific intellectual domains, such as mathematics and science, but less is known about the acquisition of domain‐general stereotypes about the intellectual abilities of women and men. During 2017 and 2018, the authors administered Implicit Association Tests to Chinese Singaporean adults and 8‐ to 12‐year‐olds ( N = 731; 58% female) to examine the gender stereotype that portrays exceptional intellectual ability (e.g., genius, brilliance) as a male attribute. This gender‐brilliance stereotype was present among adults and children and for both Chinese and White stereotype targets. It also was stronger among older children and among children whose parents also showed it. This early‐emerging stereotype may be an obstacle to gender equity in many prestigious employment sectors.