Licensed Practical Nurses' Sex Role Stereotypes

Thirty-two licensed practical nurses rated the concepts "an adult male patient" and "an adult female patient" on a set of semantic differential scales prior to listening to and rating one of four simulated patients. The simulated patients were two males and two females, with the characteristics of the females matched exactly to the males. Within each sex, the simulated patients differed according to emotional style ("calm" vs. "excited"); the diagnosis ascribed to the patients also was manipulated. The results suggest that not only were there significant traditional sex-role differences in the perceptions and evaluations of typical adult male and adult female patients, but these stereotypical attitudes were reflected in ratings of specific patients. Although the female simulated patients were exact matches of the males, the latter were consistently evaluated more positively and were more likely to be seen as possessing traditional male traits. These sex-role stereotypes were not attenuated by individual patient characteristics (emotionality or diagnosis) nor by the subjects' own attitudes toward women.