The first of a three-part investigation, this study examined the impact of experiences with adults in nontraditional occupations on elementary school children's sex stereotyped beliefs. Objectives were to determine what career-related sex stereotypes today's children have; whether these stereotypes can be changed through a program of exposure to nontraditional workers; and whether individual sex stereotypes dictate job choice. A total of 125 children in grades K-5 of an Albuquerque (New Mexico) public school responded to 30 stick figures representing 30 different occupations, indicating whether the job was one that men, women, or both could perform, and which jobs the children would like to have as adults. As part of the project, nontraditional workers from a variety of occupations visited the classrooms. Data from the study yielded the following information: (1) attitudinal changes can be affected by exposing children to nontraditional workers; (2) direct exposure to a specific worker affected children's stereotypes regardless of sex, age, grade, or race; (3) attitudinal changes were greater for girls than boys; (4) attitudinal changes of second graders were higher than those of any other age group; and (5) for all ages, grades, and both sexes, occupational stereotypes dictate job choice. (LP)