Gifted American and German adolescent women: a longitudinal examination of attachment,separation, gender roles,and career aspirations

This study assessed 43 gifted adolescent females in the United States and Germany over a 4‐year period. Initially the girls were assessed during their 7th or 8th grade and again for this current study during their 11th or 12th grade. Factors that were examined included the daughters' attachment to and psychological separation from their mothers, while the study also focused on their gender roles, instrumental (masculine) characteristics, and career aspirations. Results showed that within 4 years, these gifted girls had grown less attached, but at the same time had become psychologically closer to their mothers. Additionally, the German girls became more masculine in their characteristics while the Americans became more feminine. All of the girls developed more traditional gender roles and their desires of attaining leadership or expert roles within their future careers diminished.