BMC Psychol April 2016 PMID 27079192

Sex stereotypes influence adults' perception of babies' cries.

David Reby, Florence Levréro, Erik Gustafsson, Nicolas Mathevon

Mentions

27
Peak: 2 in Apr 2016
across 6 sources since Apr 2016

Extended reach

875,921
potential audience

Total likes

11,578

Video views

862,781

Mentions per month

Apr 2016 – May 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter9 posts
  • News6 articles
  • Facebook5 posts
  • YouTube4 videos
  • Reddit2 posts
  • Instagram1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The conversations highlight how social discussions often link the study to stereotypes, with examples like claims that parents treat boys and girls differently from birth or that societal tropes like 'boys don’t cry' influence perceptions. The tone varies from supportive acknowledgment of the study's importance to skeptical doubts about its conclusions, illustrating both emotional and analytical engagement with the topic.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions recognize the study's findings about gendered perceptions of babies' cries, though some debate its implications or validity.

InterestModerate interest

Participants show moderate curiosity, especially around the stereotypes and social implications, but less focus on the detailed methodology.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments reflect some depth, with individuals referencing personal experiences, societal tropes, and critique of media portrayal.

ImpactModerate impact

Overall, these discussions suggest the research could influence how society perceives gender roles from infancy, though the reactions range from concern to skepticism.

Abstract in brief

  • The study found that adults tend to associate lower-pitched cries with baby boys and higher-pitched cries with baby girls, even though there are no actual differences in pitch based on sex.
  • Adults also perceive low-pitched cries as more masculine and linked to boys, while high-pitched cries are seen as more feminine and linked to girls, influencing how they interpret the baby's emotions.
  • These gender stereotypes in perceiving baby cries could impact how caregivers respond, potentially affecting the child's emotional development and gender identity over time.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Fionnuala
@fionnuala1nimhu · X

@BarryCentreLeft @SVPhillimore https://t.co/XB2uz5MDXN

Feb 21, 2025 · 12 likes · 605 followers View post →
Valérie
@sweethoneycandy · X

@FALLWARDEN @pelote_twist @Margueritestern https://t.co/etVSDqfMoX https://t.co/sYVulxt1iY

Jun 20, 2024 · 1 like · 338 followers View post →
Sylvie the Witch
@MissSilverWitch · X

@Gmoneybr0 @punishedmother The most reliable way to study this would be to look at differences in babies, because they're the least socialized, but I couldn't find anything. I did find this though, which I found quite interesting and maybe you will too. https://t.co/Pqzlf8ryC0

Apr 12, 2023 · 8,299 followers View post →
Tanaria
@Tana_Ria_ · X

@Visitkarte @Antimisandrie88 @therunningdeath @temberaubend https://t.co/Uv1PSrQlHC

May 14, 2025 · 1,996 followers View post →
Fionnuala
@fionnuala1nimhu · X

@panonse @SVPhillimore https://t.co/XB2uz5MDXN

Feb 21, 2025 · 605 followers View post →
Whitewolf
@Whitewolfsvd · X

@IdealisteReali1 @SjPatate @Thug_Trio @hparadoxa @i_love_juju Tiens, voilà une étude prouvant que les parents traitent différemment leurs bébés en fonction de leur sexe https://t.co/KIO0WdIoNv Pour la version vulgarisée : https://t.co/kT2vNUv7Dg

Feb 22, 2020 · 518 followers View post →

All mentions

Tanaria
@Tana_Ria_ · X

@Visitkarte @Antimisandrie88 @therunningdeath @temberaubend https://t.co/Uv1PSrQlHC

May 14, 2025 · 1,996 followers View post →
Fionnuala
@fionnuala1nimhu · X

@BarryCentreLeft @SVPhillimore https://t.co/XB2uz5MDXN

Feb 21, 2025 · 12 likes · 605 followers View post →
Fionnuala
@fionnuala1nimhu · X

@panonse @SVPhillimore https://t.co/XB2uz5MDXN

Feb 21, 2025 · 605 followers View post →
Valérie
@sweethoneycandy · X

@FALLWARDEN @pelote_twist @Margueritestern https://t.co/etVSDqfMoX https://t.co/sYVulxt1iY

Jun 20, 2024 · 1 like · 338 followers View post →
Tarte Aux Arcs-En-Ciel
@tarteArcEnCiel · X

@FrChapleau @photos2018 parents de nouveaux-nés vont les qualifier de façons stéréotypées même juste après la naissance (https://t.co/xxBbugEogA), ou on va percevoir les cris des bébés différemment selon ces mêmes lunettes (https://t.co/9qrl0awLpf).

Mar 24, 2024 · 398 followers View post →
Patrick Murphy
@PeterMurphyMarl · X

@SaffronKim She’s wrong that we let baby girls cry longer. The research is headlined in the media like that, and even presented by the researchers like that, but it’s not what it shows at all. I thought it sounded odd, as ‘boys don’t cry’ is such a common trope. https://t.co/YwfMwehpg8

Jul 11, 2023 · 132 followers View post →
Sylvie the Witch
@MissSilverWitch · X

@Gmoneybr0 @punishedmother The most reliable way to study this would be to look at differences in babies, because they're the least socialized, but I couldn't find anything. I did find this though, which I found quite interesting and maybe you will too. https://t.co/Pqzlf8ryC0

Apr 12, 2023 · 8,299 followers View post →
Hahathatsnice
@Hahathatsnice · X

@HairyEnthusiasm A study where adults were asked to guess the sex of a baby based on it's cries, where lower cries were incorrectly attributed to male infants and male adults thought that those infants were in worse destress https://t.co/IC86BbPWP4

Jun 11, 2022 · 110 followers View post →
Whitewolf
@Whitewolfsvd · X

@IdealisteReali1 @SjPatate @Thug_Trio @hparadoxa @i_love_juju Tiens, voilà une étude prouvant que les parents traitent différemment leurs bébés en fonction de leur sexe https://t.co/KIO0WdIoNv Pour la version vulgarisée : https://t.co/kT2vNUv7Dg

Feb 22, 2020 · 518 followers View post →
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