Perceptions of Gender Norm Violations Among Middle School Students: An Experimental Study of the Effects of Violation Type on Exclusion Expectations

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that influence the perceived social costs of interacting with gender-atypical peers. Our study examined the relationship between peer processes and gender socialization by exploring situational and individual-level factors that could affect the relationship. Middle school students (N = 107) completed surveys containing items pertaining to gender identity, egalitarian attitudes, and social support. In addition, participants were asked to rate a series of questions regarding hypothetical peer rule violations. We hypothesized that different domains of gender identity would predict adolescents’ perceptions and cognitions about gender-atypical behaviors and traits. Results revealed that early adolescents perceive higher social costs for male peers who violate an appearance-based gender norm violation when compared with female peers.