HOW BASIC CAN YOU BE - THE EVOLUTION OF RESEARCH ON GENDER STEREOTYPES

The study of gender stereotypes evolved from earlier research on racial and ethnic beliefs. Moving from an initial focus on the descriptive characteristics associated with women and men, investigators of gender stereotypes have used the framework of social cognition to analyze structure and process. The utility of this research for understanding sexual harassment is discussed in terms of (a) gender subtypes that emphasize sexuality, and (b) contextual factors that prime gender stereotypes and subtypes. An understanding of these basic phenomena can inform organizational policies and legal efforts aimed at ''taming'' the hostile work environment and reducing the occurrence of sexual harassment.