Acculturation and the Hispanic Woman: Attitudes Toward Women, Sex-Role Attribution, Sex-Role Behavior, and Demographics

The present study investigated the relationship of acculturation to the variables of attitudes toward women, sex-role attribution, sex-role behaviors, and demographics in Hispanic women. First, Mexican American women, and other Hispanic women, were investigated to determine if they could be placed on a continuum of acculturation. Second, the relationship between different levels of acculturation and the above variables was investigated. Last, the predictive power of these variables to acculturation level was determined through multiple regression techniques. The sample drawn did not significantly differ from the original population used in acculturation research by Olmedo, Martinez, and Martinez, indicating that the Mexican American woman can be placed on a continuum of acculturation regardless of age or geographical location. Greater acculturation was positively correlated with more liberal attitudes toward women, single status, more education, and younger age. Greater acculturation was negatively correlated with more feminine household behaviors. The best subset of predictors of acculturation was found to be education and self-attribution of feminine and masculine sex-role characteristics.