Stereotypes of women in different stages of their reproductive life: data from Mexico and the United States.
College students from Mexico and the United States (n = 349) were surveyed to explore stereotypes regarding women in different menstrual cycle phases and other stages of reproductive life. Participants from both countries defined a premenstrual or menstrual woman as irritable and moody and a menopausal woman as old and irritable. A woman with a hysterectomy was defined as sad, and only Americans used other words that did not have any negative connotation. Participants used some positive adjectives to describe other stages. For example, a pregnant woman was defined as happy, but only by Mexicans. Finally, a woman with a young baby was defined in both countries as happy; however, Americans implied that having a baby is complicated. The findings are discussed in light of sociocultural differences and similarities.
Marván
Ma Luisa
ML
Department of Psychology, Universidad de las Américas-Puebla, Puebla, México. mlmarvan@gmail.com
Islas
Martha
M
Vela
Laura
L
Chrisler
Joan C
JC
Warren
Elyse A
EA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D017584:Reproductive History; D013240:Stereotyping; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States