How College Students Perceive Men’s and Women’s Advantages and Disadvantages Surrounding Work and Family Issues
Discourses on Gender and Sexual Inequality
ISBN: 978-1-78743-197-3, eISBN: 978-1-78743-196-6
Publication date: 21 September 2017
Abstract
Purpose
This qualitative study explores college students’ gender schemas. Sandra Bem’s pioneering work on sex roles and gender schemata are highlighted.
Methodology/approach
Over 600 college students at a diverse southeastern university were asked to describe the advantages and disadvantages to men’s and women’s gender. Although the question was framed broadly, students devoted significant attention to issues surrounding work and family, highlighting the importance of these roles to their understanding of gender. Over 6,800 responses were coded in The Ethnograph software.
Findings
The results showed a gendered schema among these students, with gendered views of work and family, in which men are associated with work and women largely with family. Some racial patterns are also discussed.
Social implications
This chapter ends with a discussion on how the gender schemas expressed support and maintained a separation of work and family.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgments
We would like to remember our friend and colleague Becky Trigg, who initiated and designed this project. Professor Trigg passed away unexpectedly during the coding of the project, and we dedicate this manuscript to her memory. We also thank the National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE grant program at UAB [NSF SBE – 0245090] awarded to Professor Trigg, which supported this project.
Citation
Drentea, P. and Ballard, S. (2017), "How College Students Perceive Men’s and Women’s Advantages and Disadvantages Surrounding Work and Family Issues", Discourses on Gender and Sexual Inequality (Advances in Gender Research, Vol. 23), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 49-70. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1529-212620170000023003
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017 Emerald Publishing Limited