A Note on Father Absence and Masculine Development in Lower-Class Negro and White Boys

Abstract

The relation of father absence and sociocultural background to masculine development was explored. Subjects were 6-year-old lower-class Negro and white boys. In terms of projective sex-role orientation (Brown's IT scale), white father-present boys were the most masculine; there was no significant difference between white father-absent and Negro father-present boys; and the Negro father-absent boys were the least masculine. No significant differences relating to either direct sex-role preference or teacher's ratings of masculinity on a multidimensional scale were found. The results suggested that underlying sex-role orientation is more influenced by father availability and family background than are more manifest aspects of masculinity.