dropdownlist - set initial value after datasource is read.

HTML

<script src="http://cdn.kendostatic.com/2014.1.318/js/kendo.all.min.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn.kendostatic.com/2014.1.318/styles/kendo.common.min.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn.kendostatic.com/2014.1.318/styles/kendo.silver.min.css">
<div>
    <label>Sexo: </label>
    <input id="sexo-dropDownList" />
</div>

JavaScript

$("#sexo-dropDownList").kendoDropDownList({
    dataSource: ["Escolha o sexo", "Masculino", "Feminino", "Indefinido"],
    value: "Escolha o sexo",
    
});