Assertiveness, Sex-Role Stereotyping, and Self-Concept

Summary

This study addressed the question of how the dimensions of sex-role stereotyping and self-concept relate to differences in assertiveness. On the basis of the responses of 61 male and 73 female undergraduate students to the (a) Rathus Assertiveness Schedule, (b) College Self-Expression Scale, (c) list of stereotypic items, and (d) Tennessee Self Concept Scale, it was found that in both sexes there was a positive relationship between assertiveness and favorableness of self-concept. Additionally, women low in sex-role stereotyping were significantly more assertive than men low in sex-role stereotyping, and women low in sex-role stereotyping had more positive self-concepts than men low in sex-role stereotyping.