Impact of parental value and gender socialization on intergenerational relationship during adolescence
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Date
2015
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Publisher
AAU
Abstract
Parents try to mould their children as per their own wishes. During upbringing they transmit their values, skills, attitudes to children through the process of gender socialization. In the process of transmission of parental messages to their offspring lack of resemblance persists occasionally between the parents and adolescence. Conflict or problem arises when difference of opinion occurs between these two generations. The present investigation was an attempt to investigate the impact of parental value and gender socialization on intergenerational relationship during adolescence. Assessment of parental value hierarchy, pattern of gender socialization and perception of parental value by adolescence were considered to see the impact on intergenerational relationship during the period of adolescence. The study was conducted in Jorhat district of Assam. One hundred and eighty eight adolescents age ranges from 16 yrs to 18 yrs and their parents were selected for the study. To make the sample representative equal numbers of boys and girls from both rural and urban areas were selected. Seven human values which were considered important by the parents while upbringing their adolescent children were selected out of 140 values. Three stories based on real life situations, each covering seven identified values were developed to measure the parental value. Two sets of questionnaires were developed to measure adolescents’ perception of parental value and also to measure the relationship between the parents and adolescents. A self report questionnaire was developed and standardized by Blackmore and Hill was used to measure the gender socialization pattern. Another questionnaire by O.P. Aggrawal was used to collect the background information. Parents’ responses to the stories were analyzed to identify the parental value hierarchy. All the parents irrespective of their locality and gender of their children consider health as most important value followed by honesty, knowledge, discipline, punctuality, respect for others and patriotism. In the area of gender socialization no distinction has been observed. In case of parental attitude towards their children playing with different toys, parents expressed favourable attitudes for dolls, toy jewellery set for their daughters. Playing with Toy gun was not favoured for both son and daughter. In case of choice of occupation professions like doctor, engineer and teacher are preferred for both son and daughter. Parents do not prefer their son to become beautician and daughter to become an electrician. In case of violent outburst and talking loudly parents do not have any distinction between their sons and daughters. None of the parents like their adolescent boy to dress or act like girls. Results of the present investigation showed that parental values are accurately perceived by their adolescents. Adolescent’s perception of all the seven parental values was found to be significant. Socio- economic status of parents showed significant role in perception of parental value by adolescents. Parental values have impact on intergenerational relationship during adolescence.