Thirty pairs of primiparous parents, fifteen with sons and fifteen with daughters, were interviewed within the first 24 hours postpartum. Although male and female infants did not differ in birth length, weight, or Apgar scores, daughters were significantly more likely than sons to be described as little, beautiful, pretty, and cute, and as resembling their mothers. Fathers made more extreme and stereotyped rating judgments of their newborns than did mothers. Findings suggest that sex-typing and sex-role socialization have already begun at birth.

Daughters are more likely to be described as little, beautiful, pretty, and cute than sons, with fathers making more extreme and stereotyped judgments of newborns.

Paper

The eye of the beholder: parents' view on sex of newborns.

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