Do we see robots as male? Children’s and adults’ gender perceptions of robots

The present study investigated the tendency of children aged 3-7 years and adults to assign gender to robots. In Study 1, we examined whether they would label robots and toys—including two humanoid robots and dolls, a doglike robot and a stuffed animal—boys or girls. In Study 2, we explored whether participants would attribute social gender to these entities or believe that humanoid and doglike robots, animals, and human boys and girls belong to specific gendered groups (e.g., that girls prefer to play with girls). The findings indicated that children as young as 4-years-old began labeling robots as boys. However, Study 2 suggested that children’s perception of robots as boys may reflect a superficial belief. Although they described the robots as boys, none of the children stated that robots prefer playing with boys. In contrast, 6- and 7-year-olds affirmed that such preferences exist among human boys and/or girls. Only adults believed that robots were boys and preferred to play with boys—yet this belief was exclusive to humanoid robots. The implications of gendering robots within educational contexts for children are discussed.