Prediction of Gender Identity, Gender Roles, And
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PREDICTION OF GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER ROLES, AND SEXISM/MISOGYNY IN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS by BEVERLY SUE PAIR, B.A., M.Ed. A DISSERTATION IN PSYCHOLOGY Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Texas Tech University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved May, 1997 |JI»U>JU!KiUUII BS f 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS p^,^( ABSTRACT v (^,^ LISTOFTABLES vii LIST OF FIGURES viii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION 1 Sexism/Misogyny 1 i Determinants of Sexism/Misogyny 7 \ The Study 14 II. METHODS 17 Participants 17 Design 17 Data Analysis 17 Setting 24 Measures of Independent Variables 24 Demographics 24 Political Orientation 25 Religious Affiliation 26 Measures of Dependent Variables 27 Gender Identity 27 Gender Roles 28 Sexism/Misogyny 30 Experimenter and Methodological Variables 32 ki Procedures 32 11 III. EXPANDED LITERATURE REVIEW 33 Sexism/Misogyny 33 Theory of Attitudes 46 Determinants of Attitudes 47 Determinants of Sexism/Misogyny 48 Gender Identity and Gender Roles 48 Sex and Gender 51 Socioeconomic Status (SES) 54 Parental Background 55 Political Ideology 57 Religion 59 Race 65 Summary 69 IV. RESULTS 71 Descriptive Statistics 71 Measurement Information 74 Model 1 78 Adjustments to Model 1 82 Overall Fit of Model 2 83 Overall Fit of Model 3 92 Comparison of Model 2 and Model 3 99 Summary of Model 3: Structural Equation Model of Gender Identity, Gender Roles and Sexism/Misogyny 99 11 V DISCUSSION 99 Descriptive Data 101 Review of Theoretical Hypotheses 102 The Structural Model 102 Hypothesis Testing 102 General Findings of Model 3 105 Implications of Findings 112 Limitations of the Study 115 Conclusions and Recommendations for Future Research 116 REFERENCES 120 APPENDICES A. CONSENT FORM 135 B. PERSONAL INFORMATION QUESTIONNAIRE 137 C. RELIGIOUS IDEOLOGY SCALE 142 D. CONSERVATISM SCALE 146 E. PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES QUESTIONNAIRE 148 F. SEX ROLE IDEOLOGY SCALE 152 G. TRADITIONAL SEX ROLE IDEOLOGY SCALE 159 H. POSITIVE REGARD SCALE 162 I. MODERN SEXISM SCALE 166 J. OLD FASHIONED SEXISM SCALE 169 K. HOSTILITY TOWARD WOMEN SCALE 171 IV B^——iwi^^^^^B^^^r^.^t^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^M^^^^^^^^^BMWiw^W ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to explore undergraduate students' background variables or predictor variables (e.g., the independent latent variables gender, race, SES, religion, political orientation, and family background) and their relationship with the dependent latent variables, gender identity, gender roles, and sexism/misogyny. The final structural model (Model 3) presented was the first model proposed within current research literature to examine the complex relationships among gender identity, gender roles, and sexism/misogyny. Four hundred and nine undergraduate students at Texas Tech University were surveyed. Analyses were computed using structural equation modeling with LISREL. Results of the analyses found the proposed constructs and measurement instruments to be adequate with regard to reliability and validity but did not suggest a strong fit for the model, as tested. Several of the theoretical suppositions proposed in this model were supported. In particular, in support of the main hypothesis, those with less traditional gender roles were found to have less sexism/misogyny. Race was not related to gender identity, gender roles, or sexism/misogyny, as hypothesized. Results supported the hypothesis that respondents' whose mothers were not employed outside of the home during the respondents' childhood tended to have more traditional conceptions of gender roles and indirectly showed more sexism. The hypothesis was supported that religiosity would be significantly related to sexism/misogyny; however a negative relationship was found instead of a positive relationship as predicted. Similarly, results supported the hypothesis that political ideology would be significantly related to gender roles; however, this, too, went against predictions by showing a negative rather than a positive relationship. Results supported the hypothesis that males had more traditional notions of gender roles and gender identity, and more sexism/misogyny than females. Results also supported the hypothesis that being male predicted a traditional (masculinity) gender identity. Finally, while it was not predicted, being female also predicted a more traditional (femininity) conception of gender identity. Socioeconomic status and fathers' background variables seemed to have no impact on the measured variables. ^i>. .' II ••••ii^w«««i Limitations of the study, recommendations for future research, and possible implications for methods of intervention were addressed. VI tmmm LIST OF TABLES 1. Deaiptive information on participants 18 2. Means, standard deviations, ranges, and reliabilities for measured variables 72 3. Sex, Race, and Sex*Race Anovas 75 4. Estimated parameter loadings for the Measurement Model 79 5. Interrcorrelation matrix for all indicator variables in Model 2 87 6. Goodness-of-fit for Model 2 88 7. Goodness-of-fit for Model 3 95 VII ^jiiiBtt'ji LIST OF FIGURES 1 Proposed structural equation model of gender identity, gender roles, and sexism/misogyny 22 2. Structural equation Model 2 84 3. Results of structural equation Model 2 85 4. Structural equation Model 3 93 5. Results of structural equation Model 3 94 VIM CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION As early as 1859, John Stuart Mill wrote about the suppression of women in. The Subiection of Women (Mill, 1971). Thirty years ago. the women's movement fostered interest in the study of women, attitudes toward women, and the numerous roles assumed by women (Ferree & Hess, 1985). Although American women's roles began changing during World War II as women were forced to be employed outside of the home when men were drafted, these roles tended to revert back to homemaker roles once men returned from the war. Since then, women in the paid labor force have had the greatest impact on the political attitudes of women (Jelen, 1988). With women assuming a more gender equivalent role in the world of work, and with some success seen in the language reform movement, the stereotypical conservative or traditional attitude toward women has been declining (Wilcox & Jelen, 1991). In turn, this has led to a state of confusion and transformation in society's attitudes toward women. It has also uncovered some on-going negative effects which have resulted, including sexism and misogyny. Research on attitudes toward women, particularly in terms of sexism and misogyny, has examined attitudes at the societal and individual levels. This research has fallen along several continuums: favorable/unfavorable, positive/negative, authoritarian/non-authoritarian, and traditional/non- traditional. Anger, pain, and depression, noted by O'Neil and Egan (1992) may be the cumulative consequences of experiencing sexism across one's life-span. Therefore, identifying and understanding the factors that contribute to sexist attitudes toward women and misogyny may assist in the elimination of negative behaviors toward women and the negative consequences of sexism. Sexism/Misoqyny Attitudes toward women are descriptive beliefs about the rights, roles, and privileges of women. Stereotypically, women have been described as emotionally labile (Broverman, Vogel, Broverman, Clarkson, & Rosenkrantz, 1972; Ruble, 1983) while men have t>een described as emotionally stable (Grossman & Wood, 1993). Sexism may be defined as discrimination on the basis of sex, especially against women. Misogyny signifies hostility or distrust of women. Sexism and misogyny may be expressed In many ways, ranging from more subtle nuances, such as joking and leering, to more overt behaviors, including violence. Society has reinforced traditional behaviors (e.g., passivity, submissiveness) learned by women trying to survive in a man's world. These traditional behaviors have become accepted as society's norm for women As women have demanded more equality in the work place and home settings, traditional gender roles have been challenged. This perceived gender role conflict has brought sexism and misogyny to the attention of many concerned with women. From a feminist standpoint, women are repressed by society, especially by men; this has resulted in a patriarchal society (Schmerl, 1989, cited in Schiffmann & Nelkenbrecher, 1994). The feminist movement has attempted to foster more positive stereotypes of women. With men as leaders in society, it has been to their advantage to prevent women from achieving leadership positions. Therefore, some negative impressions of women may have been perpetuated by society. A person's negative views toward women may begin via early socialization. For example. It appears that in educational settings, students are often presented with stereotypical views of females (Weitzman, 1979). Weitzman (1979) reported that females are typically underrepresented in general textbooks used in grade school; furthermore, females are often portrayed in stereotypical, traditional female roles in these text books. Consequently, children receive implicit messages about women's roles in society. Denmark (1983) reported similar findings in texts at the college and graduate level. This type of indirect influence can affect learning and can have long-lasting consequences and the effects may be difficult to eliminate or change. This socialization toward stereotypical views of women is perpetuated in other arenas as well and is continued into adulthood. For example, the medical field may be inadvertently shaping attitudes toward women. After reviewing medical