Relationship of Modernization and Marriage Role Attitude Among Chinese College Students

Data were collected from 220 male and 158 female students enrolled in four national universities in Taiwan, Republic of China. Major instruments included a Chinese scale measuring the degree of traditionality-modernity and a translated Jacobson Marriage-Role Scale measuring whether one holds a male-dominant attitude role in a marriage in which the husband makes the major decisions or a more equalitarian attitude where decision making is shared by both husband and wife. Both scales and a questionnaire measuring demographic data were administered during regular psychology class sessions in spring, 1984. Results indicated (a) a significant sex difference on both scales, with women holding a more modern value and a more equalitarian attitude toward marriage-role; (b) a factor structure of marriage-role attitude different for Chinese men and women; and (c) a significant relationship between traditionality-modernity and marriage-role attitude, with the more modern individual holding the more equalitarian role. Furthermore, this latter relationship was stronger for women on some factors than for men. This last finding indicates a progressive equalitarian view among well-educated Chinese women contrary to the stereotypic view of the obedient, submissive Chinese woman.