ABSTRACT
Sex-role stereotypes, the norms which a society assigns as appropriate for males and females, are learned by children at an early age. One of the ways in which children express their experience and expectations is through the medium of imaginative story writing, where can observe children's beliefs about the differing characteristics and behaviour of males and females in society. Research on children's games in a wide variety of cultures emphasises the importance of play in the socialisation process and E. B. Grief notes that the playing of sex-appropriate roles is an important factor in sex-role acquisition and development. L. A. Serbin in a study of preschool classrooms observed that teachers encouraged boys more than girls for engaging in such activities as playing with bricks, trucks and the climbing apparatus; girls were encouraged to play with dolls and with games, such as a sewing game associated with the 'domestic' role.
