Running Head: CROSS GENDER BEHAVIOR Parental Attitudes Toward Cross Gender Behavior

This study investigated the differences in parental attitudes toward cross gender behavior in children. It was hypothesized that cross gender behavior would be seen as more acceptable for girls than boys, that this effect would be more prominent in fathers than in mothers, and that parental acceptance of cross gender behavior would decrease as a child got older. Instruments were sent to both parents of 446 elementary school children, of which 172 were returned. Responses to the measure of parental attitudes toward cross gender behavior indicated that fathers generally hold more traditional gender role values than mothers do. However, both parents hold more traditional views concerning appropriate behavior for boys. No significant relationships were found between child age and parent attitudes. Study limitations included return rate, percentage of fathers completing the surveys, and the restrictive demographic characteristics of the accessible population. (Contains 31 references.) (Author/HTH) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Cross Gender Behavior 1 Running Head: CROSS GENDER BEHAVIOR Parental Attitudes Toward Cross Gender Behavior Robin Leonard Andrea D. Clements East Tennessee State University