Role theory predicts that when expectations are disconfirmed, the perception of persons who do not conform to the stereotypes may be distorted. To investigate the evaluation of sex-typed behavior in males and females, male and female college students (N=120) read about one of four persons described as either a man or woman in either a masculine or feminine role. Subjects completed likability, desirability, similarity, and trait attribution ratings; they also provided information about their attitudes toward the roles of men and women. Results indicate that femininity was perceived as more attractive than masculinity. The feminine characters were rated as more likable and more desirable, and were described with more positive and fewer negative traits than the masculine characters. Male and female subjects differed sharply in their evaluation of sex roles when the stimulus was a man but gave similar ratings when the stimulus was a woman. Males with liberal sex-role ideologies devalued the masculine role. Females liked all stimulus persons more and attributed more flattering traits than did males. (Author)