ABSTRACT
The relationship between gender and the perception of black male-female relationships is analyzed with particular attention to the acceptance or rejection of negative stereotypes about black men and black women. However, the correlation coefficients for the male stereotype items suggest that the male respondents do accept a pattern of closely related negative stereotypes about black men. The stereotyping of black men and black women is a major issue identified by researchers as being essential to understanding black male-female relationships. One of the earliest social science stereotypes about black women is that they constitute a matriarchy in that they hold excessive power in determining family matters. Overall, there is greater acceptance of negative stereotypes about black men than there is regarding black women. There are statistically significant gender differences for all of the items involving stereotypes about black men. Some black men have expressed resentment that black women seem to have more opportunities than they do.
