American Woman: How Stereotypes Have Shifted Over Time

As more women power the workforce and men shoulder more parenting, gender stereotypes have undoubtedly changed. But not all of these changes have trended toward equality, new research finds.

Alice Eagly of Northwestern University and colleagues conducted an analysis of polls from 1946 to 2018. They found that Americans increasingly rate men and women as equally competent—ascribing to each qualities like “smart” and “level-headed.” People also increasingly say they perceive equality of ambition and independence—though on these measures, men maintain a clear edge in the eyes of the public. On the other hand, the proportion who see women as more nurturing or emotional has soared to about 75 percent.

Though being perceived as more caring could be seen as a victory for women, those who violate such commonly held assumptions about their supposed nurturing nature can pay a price, observes Peter Glick of Lawrence University, who was not involved in the research. “You get this pattern,” he says, in which critics think, “Sure, she’s competent—but she’s a bitch.”