Paternal absence, sex typing, and identification

Abstract

The effects of paternal absence, and its relationship to older siblings and a father substitute, on the dependency, aggression, and masculinity-femininity of 60 preschool Negroes were assessed by structured doll-play and maternal interviews. Preschool father-absent (FA) boys were significantly more feminine, less aggressive, and more dependent than their father-present (FP) counterparts, but no significant differences occurred between FA and FP preschool girls. The maternal interview proved to be a more discriminative device than the doll-play interview in revealing sex-typed behaviors. FA girls with older female siblings only were significantly more dependent than FP girls with older male siblings only, and FA girls with older male siblings only were significantly more aggressive than FA girls with older female siblings only. FA boys with older male siblings only were significantly more masculine than FA boys with older female siblings only. FA boys with a father substitute were significantly less dependent than FA boys with no father substitute. (20 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1970 American Psychological Association.