Patsy Skeen

Sexuality and Aging: The Hammerlock of Myths

Contrary to the myths accepted by many in Western society, elderly people are highly sexual beings with sexual thoughts and desires that persist into advanced age for most individuals. Unfortunately, the sexual needs of the elderly are often ignored by family members, caregivers, and society in general. This article reviews relevant information concerning sexuality in the elderly including historical myths and current societal attitudes, sexual attitudes and behavior of elders, benefits of sexual expression, particular problems presented by nursing home care, valid alternate sexual outlets, and the need for education. Finally, an implications section for practitioners, policymakers, and families is included.

Sex-stereotyped attitudes of male and female child care workers: Support for androgynous child care

The present study assessed the sex-stereotyped attitudes of 20 male and 20 female child-care workers. Data were collected from the Sex Stereotyped Attitude Checklist, drawn from a study by Williams and Bennett (1975). Results indicated that men and women held androgynous attitudes towards girls but preferred that boys behave in masculine ways. The implications of narrowly prescribed sex roles for boys are discussed, and a position is taken in support of androgynous child care.

Black and White Fathers' Attitudes toward Children's Sex Roles

Using Bems Sex-role Inventory, sex-role attitudes were collected from 100 white and 60 black middle-class fathers. Analysis indicated that both black and white fathers held significantly more masculine sex-role attitudes toward their sons and more feminine sex-role attitudes toward their daughters. Also, white fathers expressed significantly more androgynous attitudes towards daughters and sons than did black fathers.

Family Backgrounds of Gay Fathers: A Descriptive Study

This study assessed data on the early family backgrounds of gay fathers with particular emphasis on parent-son relationships. Questionnaire responses from 30 gay fathers, derived from a larger nationwide study of 285 homosexual men from dignity chapters in the Northeastern, Midwestern, Southern, Southwestern, and Western United States were analyzed using chi-squared test of independence. Respondents reported growing up in intact homes where heterosexual relationships were modeled for them, pleasant memories existed, and marital discord was not commonplace. Although relationships with mothers were perceived to be slightly better than those with fathers, both maternal and paternal parent-child relationships were described more as adequate and positive than inadequate or negative.

Sex-Role Orientation of Gay Fathers versus Gay Nonfathers:

This study compared the sex-role orientation of 30 gay fathers and 30 gay nonfathers from the Northeastern, Midwestern, Southern, Southwestern, and Western United States. Scores from the Bern Sex-role Inventory were analyzed by a chi squared test of independence. Analysis indicated that gay men who father children are no more masculine than gay men who do not father children. The myth linking masculinity and gay fatherhood was refuted, and these findings were presented as further evidence that sexual behavior and sex-role orientation are unrelated phenomena and develop out of separate experiences.

Children's and Adolescents' Response to the Prospect of Nuclear War: A Review

A review of research examining the response of children and adolescents to the potential of nuclear war is presented. The dearth of research studying young children is discussed and the large body of research focusing on adolescents is reviewed, utilising the following major categories: (a) the early studies of the response to nuclear war; (b) knowledge of nuclear developments; (c) effect of knowledge on fear about nuclear war; (d) fears/worries about the threat of nuclear war; and (e) the effect of fear about nuclear war. Finally, the few studies which have examined the response to the threat of nuclear war within the family context are reviewed. In the final section of the paper, a critique of the existing research is presented, and recommendations for future research are offered, including methodological concerns and a theoretical approach to understanding the response to the threat of nuclear war.

Professionals' attitudes towards men in early childhood education: A national study

Abstract A national sample of women and men working in early childhood education was drawn from the membership of the National Association for the Education of Young Children in order to assess their attitudes toward the suitability, professional practice, and administrative capabilities of men in early childhood education. Men and women were found to hold similar views toward the capabilities and roles of male preschool teachers across all these areas. The general lack of polarity of attitudes between men and women on many popularlyheld beliefs about men in the early childhood field is discussed in relation to previous alleged stereotyped attitudes toward male preschool teachers.

Young Children's Perception of “Real” and “Pretend” on Television:

The Degree of Perceived Reality Scale was administered to 22 4- and 22 5-yr.-old children in a day-care center. The degree of reality perception of cartoon and human-fantasy televised episodes was measured. Five-yr.-olds had a more mature reality perception of both cartoon and human fantasy televised episodes than did 4-yr.-olds. Only 5-yr.-olds had a more mature reality perception of cartoon than of televised episodes of human fantasy.

Sex role endorsement among homosexual men across the life span

This study assessed the sex role endorsement of homosexual men at different ages across the life span. A sample of homosexual men from dignity chapters in the northeastern, midwestern, southern, southwestern, and western United States was mailed a demographic questionnaire and the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Respondents were classified into four age brackets and categorized as androgynous, masculine, feminine, and undifferentiated. A pattern of diverse sex role endorsement was found from adolescence to maturity in which gay men were equally androgynous, masculine, feminine, and undifferentiated at each age level. This finding contradicted an earlier study of heterosexual men that reported increasing numbers of androgynous males with age. The contrast suggests that the sex role endorsement of gay men may be very different from their heterosexual counterparts. It was further suggested that gay men are capable of meshing masculine and feminine aspects of their personalities early as well as later in life, that gay men do not comprise a homogeneous group, and that the stereotype of cross-gender role endorsement is unfounded.

Locus of Control of Unwed Adolescent Fathers versus Adolescent Nonfathers.

20 unwed adolescent fathers (M = 17.5 yr.) were matched by age with 20 nonfathers. Their responses to the Nowicki-Strickland scale suggest that adolescent fathers are not psychologically different in their ability to control outcomes in their lives than the controls.