The Long-Term Effects of Family Structure on Gender-Role Attitudes

Using data from the 1972-1986 General Social Surveys this study investigates whether family structure during adolescence has long-term effects on adult gender-role attitudes. Hypotheses are that 1) adults from intact families those from reconstitued families and those who lived only with their mother would have progressively less traditional gender-role attitudes: 2) adults whose families were disrupted by divorce would have less traditional attitudes than those disrupted by fathers death; and 3) children of employed mothers would have less traditional attitudes than children of nonemployed mothers. Findings are that family structure only selectively affects gender-role attitudes. Adults who as adolescents lived in a single-parent household headed by a divorced mother favor greater political power for women. Adults from intact and nonintact families however hold essentially similar views concerning traditional gender-role behavior. Maternal employment liberalizes womens but not mens gender-role attitudes. (authors)