Department/College/UnitSocial Sciences Division

TitleDistinguished Professor

AffiliationFaculty

Other UCSC Campus AffiliationEducation Department
Feminist Studies Department
John R. Lewis College
College Nine

Web SiteCampbell

Primary Office LocationSocial Sciences 2
Room 355

Office HoursSpring 2025: Monday 11:00-11:45 by appointment

Mail StopPsychology Faculty Services

Biography, Education and Training

Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School, Boston

Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

B.A., Boston University

Summary of Expertise

Developmental and social-psychological perspectives on gender and sexism in childhood and adulthood. Related areas of expertise include:

• hostile and benevolent sexist attitudes
• sexual harassment and gender bias
• gender identity 
• gender-related variations in academic motivation in STEM and other subjects
• language and communication in relationships
• representations of gender in mass media
• social identity 
• gender segregation
• family and peers as contexts for gender socialization
• intersection of gender and racial-ethnic identities

Research Interests

The origins and consequences of gender inequities across the lifespan, including: 

• * sexist attitudes and experiences with sexism from childhood into adulthood
• * self-concepts, social identities, and stereotyping during gender development
• * intersections of gender and racial-ethnic identities
• * gender, language, and social interaction
• * impact of gender stereotyping and sexual harassment in schools on academic motivation (including STEM fields)
• * meta-analysis and integrative reviews

Please see Professor Leaper's personal web page for more information.

Awards, Honors and Grants

   * Martin M. Chemers Award for Outstanding Research (2021)

   * Distinguished Professor (2020-on)

   * Fellow, Society for Personality and Social Psychology (2019-on)

   * Golden Apple Teaching Award (2010)

   * Fellow, Association for Psychological Science (2007-on)

Selected Publications

1.    Leaper, C. (2024). The development of ambivalent sexism: Proposals for an expanded model. British Journal of Developmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.12521.
2.    Gutierrez, B. C., & Leaper, C. (2025). Ambivalent sexism linked to Mexican-heritage ethnic identity and gender messages from older relatives, familial peers, and non-familial peers. Journal of Latinx Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/lat0000282.
3.    Leaper, C., & Gutierrez, B. C. (2024). Sexism and gender-based discrimination.  Encyclopedia of Adolescence (2nd ed.). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-96023-6.00013-0. 
4.    Leaper, C. (2022). Origins and consequences of childhood gender segregation: Towards an integrative developmental systems model. In D. P. VanderLaan & W. I. Wong (Eds.), Gender and sexuality development. Springer.
5.    Shirefley, T. A., & Leaper, C. (2022). Mothers' and fathers' science-related talk with daughters and sons while reading life and physical science books. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.813572
6.   Starr, C. R., & Leaper, C. (2022). Gender, race, perceived representation, and stereotyped attitudes in relation to undergraduates' pSTEM identity and motivation. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations.  https://doi.org/10.1177/13684302221128235
7.   Gutierrez, B. C., & Leaper, C. (2021). Reconstructing culture: A latent profile analysis of Mexican-heritage young women's cultural practices, gender values, and ethnic identity. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000515