Social Advantage and Attitudes toward Women's Roles.

French, Sandra S.; Nock, Steven L.

The research reported in this paper was designed to focus on the causes of attitudes toward women. Given that such attitudes are presumed to be strong determinants of legislative decisions, employment practices, familial interactions, and the like, it is apparent that they relate both directly and indirectly to the issue of advantage. As such, the author drew upon theoretical arguments concerning the effect of advantage on ideology. Those in the human society who are privileged by virtue of their sex or race are certainly aware of that advantage, as suggested by the data. Recent studies suggest that males as well as females stand to gain as sex stereotyping and sex based role assignments diminish. Miller has pointed out that the general public of advantaged males is not aware of the advantages that structural change might afford. The evidence suggests that those who currently hold advantaged positions are apt to perceive economic and status losses should societal values move toward equality and thus to cling to traditional views which guarantee their superior positions.

ATTITUDE (Psychology); SOCIAL conditions of women; EMPLOYMENT practices; IDEOLOGY; GENDER stereotypes; SOCIAL status

Sociological Inquiry, 1981, Vol 51, Issue 1, p55

0038-0245

Academic Journal

10.1111/j.1475-682X.1981.tb01026.x