Abstract des Autors

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of stereotyped visual images (pictures) on the friendship status ranking of females in "gender-appropriate" and "gender-inappropriate" sports. The study employed a 2x2x3 (sex x sport x image) ANOVA between subjects design, with tennis and basketball being the "appropriate" and "inappropriate" sports chosen respectively. The visual image was manipulated by having a picture of a stereotypical feminine female versus a stereotypical androgynous female. The control group did not have a visual image. We hypothesized that image would interact with sport appropriateness such that the feminine image would enhance the friendship status of the hypothetical basketball player; whereas the androgynous image would lower the hypothetical tennis player's status. A "sex-by-image" interaction as well as a "sex-by-sport" trend supported the hypotheses for males; males used the perceived femininity/androgyny stereotype to influence their decision about friendship status. In conclusion, differences in status ranking were found between men and women when a visual image was presented. This is an indication that assumptions about the femininity of girls/women in sport are still questioned by males, whether it is a question of friendship or dating. Verf.-Referat