This research examined how training and experience, family roles, and gender of observed family leadership affect ratings of family and individual parent functioning. Observer perceptions of video-taped family interviews were compared to determine the relative influence of male and female leadership. The influence of training was determined by comparing the perceptions of trained and naive observers. One hundred forty (70 naive, 70 experienced) adults from a large university and midwestern city participated in the experiment. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two family interview conditions: (a) matriarchical, and (b) patriarchical. After viewing the video-taped family interviews, participants completed forms assessing the parents and families. The assessments included ratings of family communication, family conflict negotiation, family support and nurturance, parent helpfulness to family functioning, and parent individual adjustment. For the three family measures, a multivariate analysis of variance was conducted. Results indicate experienced observers are vulnerable to bias against female family leadership whereas naive observers show no comparable tendency. For the two measures of parent functioning, a mixed model multivariate analysis of variance was conducted. Results indicate that although experienced observers offer more critical ratings than their naive counterparts, vulnerability to bias against women as family leaders is not significantly influenced by training and experience. Evaluations of parent and family functioning appear the result of the combined influence of several factors. As a consequence, vulnerability to bias in family evaluations likely occurs in a complicated and potentially discrete fashion. This complexity promotes serious concern with respect to the ability of training to reduce the propensity for gender discriminating practice.