Mother-Centeredness and College Youths' Attitudes toward Social Equality for Women: Some Empirical Findings

The relationship of sex role attitudes of college youth to parental characteristics and socialization influences were investigated in a survey. A cumulative-type attitude scale was developed to measure feminine social equality (FSE) orientation. Results of multivariate analyses revealed a marked positive relationship of youths' FSE orientation to (a) the salience of mother, rather than father, in attitudinal socialization, (b) the educational attainment of mothers, but not of fathers, and (c) the extent of mother's involvement in occupational roles outside the home during the respondent's school years. FSE attitudes were also found to be related to religious faith and ethnic background.