THE CONTRIBUTION OF TYPICAL SEX-DIFFERENCES IN FACIAL MATURITY TO SEX-ROLE STEREOTYPES

Females are stereotypically perceived as warmer and less powerful than mala, and baby-faced adults are perceived as warmer and less powerful than those with more mature faces. As women, on the average, have more babyish faces than men, it was hypothesized that typical sex differences in facial maturity may contribute to sex role stereotypes. Subjects rated adult schematic faces of both sexes on sex-stereotypic traits and roles. In a typical facial maturity condition (mature-faced males and baby-faced females) typical sex role stereotypes were obtained. However, when the natural association of gender and facial maturity was eliminated (males and females equally mature-faced) or reversed (baby-faced males and mature-faced females), sex role stereotypes were weakened or reversed.