Sex-linked patterns of socialization

The focus of the present study was on ways in which parents differentially socialize their sons and daughters. Measures of socialization were based on the proportion of person- and position-oriented appeals parents reported using in attempts to regulate their children's behavior. Mothers and fathers of first, third, and fifth graders were asked what they would say to their son or daughter in a series of common parent—child situations in which there was an obvious need for a parent to regulate the child's behavior. The major finding was a sex of parent by sex of child interaction in the use of parental appeal strategies. Across ages of children, parents were more person oriented in regulating their same-sex child than their opposite-sex child.This research was supported by Grant MH28543-01 from the National Institute of Mental Health. Copies of the Manual for Coding Regulatory Appeals can be obtained by writing to the author at the Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York, 33 West 42nd Street, New York, New York 10036.