An inter-generational study of sex-role preferences

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences and similarities in sex-role perception within the framework of marriage for three age groups: high school, college, and adult. The Marriage Role Expectation Inventory was administered to 259 high school students, 116 college students, and 100 adults. Items on the Inventory were into sub-scales in seven behavior areas: authority, homemaking, care of children, personal characteristics, social participation, education, employment and support. There were statistically significant between the high school group and the other two groups, but there were no significant differences between the college and adult groups. This indicates a trend toward a less equalitarian view of male-female roles in marriage for the high school students. In addition to having a lower mean score, the high school group scored statistically significantly lower than the college and adult groups in all seven subscale areas. The hypothesis tested, that husband/wife role preferences, Traditional versus Equalitarian, will vary independently of: age group, sex the respondents, and educational level of the respondents, was partially rejected. Part (a) of the hypothesis was rejected because the age of the respondents appeared to have a direct relation to the scores on the MREI. Part (b), concerning sex of the respondents, was supported even though the high school males scored statistically significantly lower than the high school females. Educational level was the variable for Part (c) and again the hypothesis was supported. The high school students' mean score was lower than the more highly educated groups', but the adults with a fairly comparable education scored essentially as high as their peers with college degrees. According to this study, the equalitarian view of male-female roles in marriage tends to predominate, but young, high school aged males appear to desire a more traditional arrangement.

Name thesis:degree_name

M. S.

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Management, Housing and Family Development

Department dc:contributor.department

Management, Housing and Family Development

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1973

Author dc:creator

• Creigh, Elaine Evans

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/110282

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/110282