Skip to main content
Log in

Dogmatism, age, and educational level as correlates of feminism for males and females

  • Brief Report
  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Male and female subjects completed a dogmatism scale and a feminism scale and provided information about their age, amount of education, and present occupation. The variables correlating with feminism depended upon the sex of the respondent. The more dogmatic individuals of both sexes supported feminism less than the less dogmatic individuals, with the effect being somewhat stronger for the males. The older female supported feminism less than the younger female. Age was unrelated to feminism for the males. The poorly educated female supported feminism less than the better-educated female, but the effect was diminished when dogmatism and age were held constant. Educational level was unrelated to feminism for males. The differences between the sexes are discussed in the context of perceptions of issues and situational ambiguity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  • Dempewolff, J. A. Development and validation of a feminism scale. Psychological Reports, 1974, 34, 651–657.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldschmidt, J., Gergen, M. M., Quigley, K., & Gergen, K. J. The women's liberation movement: Attitudes and action. Journal of Personality, 1974, 42, 601–617.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollingshead, A. B., & Redlich, F. C. Social class and mental illness: A community study. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1958.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hovland, C. I., & Janis, I. L. Summary and implications for future research. In C. I. Hovland & I. L. Janis (Eds.), Personality and persuasibility. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1959

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, D. Factors affecting social change: A social-psychological interpretation. Journal of Social Issues, 1974, 30(3), 159–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirtley, D., & Harkless, R. Some personality and attitudinal correlates of dogmatism. Psychological Reports, 1969, 24, 851–854.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marlowe, L. Social Psychology: An interdisciplinary approach to human behavior (2nd ed.). Boston: Holbrook Press, Inc., 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sears, D. O. Political behavior. In G. Lindzey & E. Aronson (Eds.), The handbook of social psychology (2nd ed.; Vol. 5). Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tavris, C. Who likes women's liberation — and why: The case of the unliberated liberals. Journal of Social Issues, 1973, 29(4), 175–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troldahl, V. C., & Powell, F. A. A short-form of the dogmatism scale for use in field studies. Social Forces, 1965, 44, 211–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vacchiano, R. B., Strauss, P. S., & Hochman, L. The open and closed mind: A review of dogmatism. Psychological Bulletin, 1969, 71, 261–273.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

The authors would like to thank Joan Joesting for her comments on an earlier version of this paper. Support for the statistical analyses was given by the Maryland State College Information Center.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Whitehead, G.I., Tawes, S.L. Dogmatism, age, and educational level as correlates of feminism for males and females. Sex Roles 2, 401–405 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00302809

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00302809

Keywords

Navigation