Abstract
Statement of Problem
Psychological stress influenced by gender stereotypes has become a significant societal problem found within the college environment. Eisler and Skidmore (1987) and Humphrey (2004) illustrated that the confining, maladaptive, stress-producing aspects of traditional gender roles can result in psychosomatic disorders, which in turn can cause various serious diseases, developing from psychological stress. These factors have the potential to inhibit gender and social development. It is hoped that this study will help discover new strategies to dealing with the root causes and detrimental effects of traditional gender roles and stereotypes within the college environment.
Source of Data
The researcher surveyed 203 female undergraduate students and 157 male undergraduate students in spring 2008. The male students were instructed to rate scale items adapted from the Masculine Gender Role Stress (MGRS) scale (Eisler & Skidmore, 1987) and the female students were instructed to rate scale items adapted from the Feminine Gender Role Stress (FGRS) scale (Gillespie & Eisler, 1992). Students also indicated their age, religion, race/ethnicity, college major, and whether they had any children.
Conclusions Reached
The findings indicated that undergraduate female respondents with a declared college major in a gender-oriented field of study such as sociology, education, and gender studies exhibited higher stress pertaining to feeling physically unattractive and feeling victimized than women majoring in traditional or science related fields of study. Gender stereotype awareness influenced psychological stress, but only in relation to feeling victimized and meeting ideal body image among undergraduate college women within this particular study. The findings in regards to undergraduate male respondents were: (a) men who had children had lower stress towards exhibiting emotional expressiveness; (b) minority males experienced higher stress in relation to feeling subordinate to women; and ( c) men that indicated a religious belief experienced higher stress in relation to feeling subordinate to women.