Gender Roles
How Gender Stereotypes Affect Pro-Environment Behavior
New research finds certain green behaviors are linked with masculine and feminine stereotypes.
Americans Now Believe Women Are as Competent as Men—but Not as Ambitious
A new study shows that some gender stereotypes have shifted significantly over the decades, while others remain stubbornly in place.
What Does Being a Man's 'Type' Have to Do With Harassment and Rape?
President Donald Trump recently defended himself against an accusation of rape by saying the accuser wasn't his type. How much does attraction play into sexual harassment and assault?
Is Gender Unique to Humans?
Evidence from our closest evolutionary relatives suggests that we might not be the only animals with a sense of gender identity.
U.K. Advertising Watchdog Proposes Ban of Gender-Stereotypical Ads
Ads that suggest that an activity is inappropriate for girls or boys because they are more suitable for the opposite sex, or shows a woman cleaning alone, would be axed under the new proposed regulations.
An Evolutionary Explanation for Fear of Female Promiscuity
Researchers in England find a link between sexual morality and women’s economic dependence on men.
Children’s Picture Books Retain Stubborn Stereotypes
A new survey of children’s picture books finds gender stereotypes—nurturing mothers, breadwinning fathers—remain stubbornly persistent.
Betty Friedan, Open Heart Surgery, and Me
On the 50th anniversary of "The Feminine Mystique," the founder of Pacific Standard recalls saving the life of the headstrong author of that groundbreaking book.
Men: Want More Sex? Don’t Do the Laundry!
Sociologists refute the idea that husbands who help out around the house are repaid with sex.
'Slut' Label Refuses to Die
A psychologist who reported last year that women can be just as interested as men in casual sex pinpoints one reason they hesitate: a justified fear of being judged.
The Great Depression and the Rise of the Refrigerator
How the gleaming white fridge changed our relationship to food.
Sex Stereotypes and the Single Robot
German researchers report putting long hair on a robot is sufficient to get people to assign it “feminine” tasks.
Powerful Men Have More Children, Anthropologist Says
Anthropologist Christopher von Rueden's studies of a Bolivian tribe suggest that men's instinctive drive for power is a strategy to seed their descendants thickly.
Woman Boss May Lower Men’s Pay, Prestige
New research suggests men lose status if their supervisor holds a position traditionally occupied by a member of the opposite sex.
Defy Sex Stereotypes and One Mistake Could Cost You
For men and women in leadership positions usually occupied by the other gender, a single mistake is seen as evidence of incompetence.
Real Men Do Apologize
Newly published research finds men are as willing as women to apologize. But they’re less likely to believe a particular incident warrants contrition.
The Picture for Men: Superhero or Slacker
Recent scholarship and popular journalism both suggest an unappealing future for American boys: You're screwed.
A Maxim a Day Keeps Bad Feelings Away
Proverbial sayings such as “we’re all human” reduce feelings of regret and hypocrisy after men get into trouble. But new research finds they don’t have the same soothing effect on women.
Magicians Speculate on Profession's Gender Imbalance
Working magicians conjure up rationales — both beneficial and baneful — for why so few women perform magic.
Creasing the Celluloid Ceiling: More Female Roles on TV
A greater percentage of TV characters are female, a new study notes, but it's still mostly guys offstage.