Basal Reading Texts: Change in Sex Role Attributes? With a Survey of the Literature on Sex Roles

Abstract

Domination in humans is more behavioral than innate. Socialization conditions the sexes to react differently to a given situation; behavioral differences metaphor dichotomy of the sexes. Extreme stereotypic behavior inhibits intellect. Males dominate most of the world's societies. Humans generalize status and life styles from primary roles; perhaps males, as mobile hunters, perceive themselves worthier of power. Schools transmit cultural traits intact over generations, serving cultural lag. School environments and personnel often remained fixed in message. Media remains the variable to effect desirable changes. This study, designed to sample sex role attribute changes in readers between two periods, used questionnaires compiling frequencies of these. Four popular basals were samples, 228 stories of grade 1-3 level. Results reveal few changes; basal readers are not keeping pace with their culture.