Abstract

In a partial replication of and extension of an earlier study (Lee & Cha, 1974), the present study correlated children's femininity scores with their parents' child rearing attitudes. A femininity (MF) scale was administered to a group of fifth graders and on the basis of the scores of this scale, 4 groups (Sex × Femininity) of 15 pupils each were selected representing the two extreme MF score groups in each sex category. Parents of these 4 groups of pupils were given a questionnaire containing a set of child. rearing attitude scales. Results from the mothers failed to confirm the correlations observed in the earlier study. This failure as well as the newly obtained Sex × Femininity interactions on three of the father variables and main effects observed on two of the mother variables were explained in terms of the influence of child characteristics on of the parents test responses, who apparently through self-instruction responded to the scales with that particular child in mind who became the basis for classification of the parents. Possibility for a greater receptivity of the mother as opposed to the father toward sex-linked characteristics of the child and methodological implications of self-instruction on the part of parents in a study using a design such as the present one were discussed.