Reinforcing Contingencies for Sex-Role Behaviors: Effect of Experience with Children

FAGOT, BEVERLY I. Reinforcing Contingencies for Sex-Role Behaviors: Effect of Experience with Children. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1978, 49, 30-36. Experienced and inexperienced teachers were observed during free play periods. Experienced teachers initiated more activities than inexperienced teachers, while inexperienced teachers joined children's play groups more often. Experienced teachers interacted more with both boys and girls when they were engaged in feminine-preferred activities, while inexperienced teachers interacted more with boys engaging in masculine-preferred activities and girls while engaging in feminine-preferred activities. It was suggested that inexperienced teachers tend to go along with children's play preferences, while experienced teachers direct the children into activities they consider more important to academic success (i.e., feminine behaviors).