Level of Categorization and Content of Gender Stereotypes

Stereotypic conceptions of gender may be structured, as has typically been assumed, in terms of the general concepts of “man” and “woman.” Alternatively, people may view males and females in terms of subtypes that offer more specific and detailed information. Three studies were conducted to assess the degree to which these general and specific concepts represent different levels of categorization, and to describe the content of each conceptual category. These three studies provided no evidence that the general stereotypes and a variety of subtypes differ in their richness, as assessed by number of associations generated by subjects to each concept; the results thus cast doubt on the validity of a hierarchical model. Additional analyses suggest (1) that there is considerable overlap among some of the common categories, and (2) that subtypes of males and females differ in homogeneity and in their resemblance to the more general categories. Implications for understanding the structure and process of gender stereotyping are discussed.