Consensus, Change and Stability in Sex-Role Orientations: 1974–1977

Abstract

Responses of college students in 1974 and 1977 to an ad hoc list of adjectives and to a series of women's role items supported previous findings which show that, despite widespread assumptions about sex role change, there is in fact stability over time and consensus between the sexes on the content of sex role stereotypes. Also consistent with previous findings was the observation of change in women's role items. The implications of the evidence on the long term stability and consensus of the stereotype are noted and briefly discussed.