GENDER ROLE ATTITUDE AND EXPECTATIONS TOWARDS PARENTING DURING EXPANDING STAGE OF FAMILY LIFE CYCLE
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Date
2019
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
MPUT, UDAIPUR
Abstract
Contemporary Indian families have witnessed dramatic changes during the past
century such as shifting trend towards nuclearisation, decline in fertility rates, rise in
education, women’s entry into workforce etc. Despite these changes, gender
stereotypes still remain entrenched in our families. Parents overtly or covertly
transmit into their children their own beliefs regarding gender thereby limiting
opportunities for children, ignoring their actual talent and affecting their overall well
being. The present study was an exploratory attempt done with the objective of
assessing parental gender role attitudes and expectations towards their children in the
expanding stage of family life cycle. The sample for the study comprised of 120 urban
middle class nuclear families residing in Udaipur city. 40 mothers and 40 fathers
each, were selected from families having their eldest child as preschooler, school aged
and adolescent. Subjects selected for the investigation had minimum educational
qualification as graduate and belonged to middle income group. Two scales (Gender
Role attitude scale and gendered expectations scale) were developed by the
investigator to assess parental gender role attitude and gendered expectations towards
their children. Scales were standardized by calculating reliability and validity. For
data collection subjects were contacted personally by the investigator at their
respective locale. The data obtained were analysed in the light of objectives for the
present investigation. Percentages were calculated to find out gender role attitude and
gendered expectations of parents towards traits in their children. Z test was calculated
to find out the significant difference between mothers and fathers to calculate stage
wise (Preschool/Schoolage, Preschool/Adolescents, Adolescents/ Schoolage)
difference among mothers and fathers regarding their gender role attitude and
gendered expectations. Chi square test was calculated to assess the association
between background factors and parental gender role attitude /gendered expectations
towards children. Analysis of data reveals that Greater percentage of respondents
were graduates followed by post graduates. Majority of mothers mostly held
government jobs while fathers were mostly employed in government jobs or business.
2
Greater percentage of mothers and fathers had androgynous and gender neutral
attitude and expectations towards their sons and daughters however, decline in
androgynity or corresponding increase in traditionality was witnessed as we
progressed from preschool stage towards adolescence stage. Compared to mothers
greater percentage of fathers in all stages had traditional attitude and expectations.
Regarding parental gender role attitude and expectations towards children,
preschooler’s, school ager’s mothers and fathers held significant difference towards
emotional trait while it was non significant for social and aspirational traits.
Significant difference was observed in gender role attitude and expectations of
adolescent’s mothers and fathers towards aspirational traits. However the difference
was found to be non significant for social and emotional traits. Stage wise
comparision regarding parental gender role attitude and expectations reveals
significant differences among preschooler’s mothers/fathers and school ager’s
mothers/fathers and among preschooler’s mothers/fathers and adolescent’s
mothers/fathers. No significant difference was observed among school ager’s
mothers/fathers and adolescent’s mothers/fathers. Background factors such as child’s
gender and parental age were found to be significantly associated with parental gender
role attitude and expectations. Significant association was established between
father’s occupation and their gender role attitude/ expectations. No association was
obtained between parental education and their gender role attitude/ expectations.
Analysis of case studies revealed factors which contributed towards traditional or
androgynous attitude of parents these were traditionality of parent’s occupation,
parental own socialization experiences, parental role sharing and power division
within family, parenting style, age of marriage and becoming parents and composition
of sibling dyad. Considering the results of the study guidelines were formulated for
parents to help them raise their kids free from gender stereotypes and biases and to
create and model an environment for their children that promotes gender equality and
gives them freedom to be themselves.
Description
Gender Role Attitude and Expectations towards parenting during expanding stage of family life cycle
Keywords
Citation
Joshi P. And Audichya S.