ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the validity of the stereotypes of sex differences as evidenced by behavior of children between the ages of 3 and 11, observed in natural settings in parts of the world. Responsible behavior does show significant sex differences in the six culture samples, but does in recent observational studies in Kenya. The crucial variable seems to be economic; in societies with animal husbandry or agricultural work that can be assigned to boys, there are sex differences in amount of work required of girls and boys after 7-8 years of age. When one contrasts the mean proportion scores of the boys, girls, the magnitude of the sex differences is smaller than in any of the six societies with the exception of Orchard Town. Females are frequently characterized as more dependent, passive, compliant, nurturant, responsible, sociable than males, who in turn are characterized as more dominant, aggressive, active.
