Abstract
The study Investigated the effect of two multidimensional systems—namely, social setting and the self—upon adolescents' growth and development. Specifically, we hypothesized that gender differences in adult social status are greater in the kibbutz than in the Israeli urban setting, and that this gap is associated with gender differences in global self-esteem among kibbutz youth. The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, and scales from Marsh's Self-Description Questionnaire III and from Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents were administered to 569 kibbutz and urban adolescents from Grades 9 to 11. Data on academic achievement and parental status was also obtained. Kibbutz mothers were found to have significantly lower social status than fathers, while kibbutz girls had significantly lower self-esteem than kibbutz boys and urban adolescents of both sexes. The organization of the self-concept of kibbutz females differed from the other groups: self-esteem was predicted not only from self-concepts in the domains of scholastic achievement and peer support, but also from the domain of parental support, from academic achievement, and from father's occupational status.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adar, G. (1982). Occupational prestige in the kibbutz.Interchange 13: 45–54.
Adar, G. (1988).Occupational Prestige in the Kibbutz. Institute for Study and Research on the Kibbutz, Haifa University, Haifa (Hebrew).
Allon, M. (1975).Adolescent in the Kibbutz. Sifriat Poalim, Tel Aviv (Hebrew).
Assor, A., and Connell, J. P. (1991). The validity of students' self-report as measures of performance affecting self-appraisal. In Schwanck, D., and Meece, J. (eds.),Students Self Perception and Behavior in the Classroom. Lawrence Erlbaum Press, New York.
Avrahami, A. (1992). A year of community work: A stride toward maturity for kibbutz youth. Ph.D. thesis, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem (Hebrew).
Bandura, A. (1978). The self-system in reciprocal determinism.Am. Psychol. 33: 344–358.
Blasi, J. (1983). A critique of gender and culture: Kibbutz women revisited. In Palgi, M. Blasi, J. Rosner, M., and Staire, M. (eds.),Sexual Equality: The Israeli Kibbutz Tests the Theories. Norwood Editions, Norwood, PA.
Blumberg, R. (1976). Kibbutz women: From the fields of revolution to laundries discontent. In Iglitzin, L., and Ross, R. (eds.),Women in the World: A Comparative Study. Oxford Press, Santa Barbara, CA.
Birenbaum, S. (1981). Comparative research of ego development, and occupational expectations and aspirations of urban and kibbutz adolescent females. MA thesis, Haifa University (Hebrew).
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1989). Ecological system theory.Ann. Child Develop, 6: 187–249.
Cheung, T. (1986). Sex differences in the effect of academic achievement on self-esteem: A Hong-Kong case.Social Behav. Person. 14: 161–165.
Dar, Y. (1993). Youth in the kibbutz: The prolonged transition to adulthood.Isr. Social Sci. Res. 8: 122–146.
Davis, S. F., Martin, D. A., Wylie, C. T., and Voorthees, J. W. (1978). Relationship of fear of death and level of self-esteem in college students.Psychol. Rep. 42: 419–422.
Demo, D. H., and Parker, K. D. (1987). Academic achievement and self-esteem among black and white college students.J. Social Psychol. 127: 335–355.
Dweck, C. S., and Elliot, E. S. (1983). Achievement motivation. In Hetherington, M. (ed.),Handbook of Child Psychology (Vol. 4). Wiley, New York.
Eccles, J., Adler, T., and Meece, J. (1984). Sex differences in achievement: A test of alternate theories.J. Person. Social Psychol. 46: 26–43.
Epstein, S. (1973). The self-concept revisited, or the theory of a theory.Am. Psychol. 28: 404–416.
Gerson, M. (1978).Family, Women, and Socialization in the Kibbutz. Lexington Books, Lexington, MA.
Harter, S. (1983). Developmental perspectives on the self-esteem. In Hetherington, M. (ed.),Handbook of Child Psychology (Vol. 4). Wiley, New York.
Harter, S. (1988).Manual: Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents. Unpublished manual. University of Denver, Denver, CO.
Keller, S. (1983). The family in the kibbutz: What lessons for us? In Palgi, M., Blasi, J., Rosner, M., and Staire, M. (eds.),Sexual Equality: The Israeli Kibbutz Tests the Theories. Norwood Editions, Norwood, PA.
Kohn, M. L. (1989).Class and Conformity: A Study in Values with a Reassessment. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago. (Originally published 1977.)
Markus, H. (1977). Self-schemas and processing information about the self.J. Person. Social Psychol. 35: 63–78.
Marsh, H. W. (1988).Self Description Questionnaire: A Theoretical and Empirical Basis for the Measurement of Multiple Dimensions of Preadolescent Self-concept: A Test Manual and a Research Monograph. The Psychological Corporation, San Antonio, TX.
Marsh, H. W. (1989). Age and sex effects in multiple dimensions of self-concept: Preadolescent to early-adulthood.J. Educat. Psychol. 81: 417–430.
Marsh, H. W. (1990a). Causal ordering of academic self-concept and academic achievement: A multiwave, longitudinal panel analysis.J. Educat. Psychol. 82: 646–656.
Marsh, H. W. (1990b). The influences of internal and external frames of reference on the formation of math and English self-concepts.J. Educat. Psychol. 82: 107–116.
Nathan, M., and Schnabel, E. (1978). Kibbutz adolescents' attitudes toward inter-gender relationships. In Rosner, M., Ben-David, Y., Avnat, A., Cohen, N., and A. Liviathan (eds.),The Second Generation—Continuity and Change in the Kibbutz. Sifriat Poalim, Tel-Aviv (Hebrew).
Orchan, E. (1984). Demographic trends in Kibbutz Arzi Hashomer Hatzair.Hakibbutz, 9–10: 260–287 (Hebrew).
Orr, E., and Ben-Eliahu, E. (1993). Feminine, masculine, and non-stereotyped self-image, domain-specific self-perception, and self-esteem: Gender differences during adolescence.Magamot 34: 538–562 (Hebrew).
Palgi, M. (1980). Women and participation in the kibbutz. In Bartolke, K., Bergman, T., and Liegle, L. (eds.),Integrated Cooperatives in Industrial Society—The Example of the Kibbutz. Van Gorcum, Assen, Holland.
Palgi, M. (1993). Kibbutz women: Gender roles and status.Isr. Social Sci. Res. 8: 108–121.
Piers, E., and Harris, D. (1969).The Piers Harris Children's Self-Concept. Counselors Recordings and Tests, Nashville, TN.
Rabin, A. Y. (1963). Gender differences in attitudes of kibbutz high school graduates.Hadim 72: 157–163.
Richman, C. L., Clark, M. L., and Brown, K. P. (1985). Gender specific self-esteem in late adolescent students: Race × gender × SES effects.Adolescence 20: 555–566.
Robinson-Awana, P., Kehle, T. J., and Jenson, W. R. (1986). But what about smart girls? Adolescence, self-esteem and sex-role perception as a function of academic achievements.J. Educat. Psychol. 78: 179–183.
Rosenberg, M. (1991).Society and Adolescent Self-Images. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. (Originally published 1965.)
Rosenberg, M. (1985). Self-concept and psychological well-being. In Leahy, R. (ed.),The Development of the Self. Academic Press, Orlando, FL.
Rosenberg, M., and Pearlin, L. I. (1978). Social class and self-esteem among children and adults.Am. J. Social. 84: 53–75.
Rosenberg, M., and Simmons, R. G. (1971).Black and White Self-Esteem: The Urban School Child. American Sociological Association, Washington, DC.
Rosner, M., and Palgi, M. (1982).Gender Equality in the Kibbutz: Backsliding or a Meaningful Change. Institute for Study and Research on the Kibbutz, Haifa University, Haifa.
Rosolio, D. (1993). The impact of the economic crisis on ideology and life-style of kibbutzim.Isr. Social Sci. Res. 8: 1–10.
Skaalvik, E. M. (1986). Sex differences in global self-esteem. A research review.Scand. Educat. Res. 30: 167–179.
Snarey, J., Friedman, K., and Blasi, J. (1986). Sex role strain among kibbutz adolescents and adults: A developmental perspective.J. Youth Adolesc. 15: 223–242.
Sullivan, H. S. (1953).The Interpersonal Theory of Psychiatry. Norton, New York.
Talmon-Garber, Y. (1972 c1957). The parental role in occupational placement of the second generation. In Talmon, Y. (ed.),Family and Community in the Kibbutz. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.
Tyree, A. (1981). Occupational socio-economic status in Israeli society.Megamot 28: 7–21 (Hebrew).
Wylie, R. C. (1968). The present status of self theory. In Borgatta, E. F., and Lambert, W. W. (eds.),Handbook of Personality Theory and Research. Rand McNally, Chicago.
Wylie, R. C. (1979).The Self-Concept (Vol. 2). University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The kibbutz data is based on a master's thesis submitted to Ben-Gurion University of the Negev by the second author and advised by the first.
Received Ph.D. from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem. Current research interest: effects of the sociological setting on the self-system (gender differences) and parental childrearing ideas.
Received M.A. from Ben-Gurion University. Research interests are in educational psychology.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Orr, E., Dinur, B. Social setting effects on gender differences in self-esteem: Kibbutz and urban adolescents. J Youth Adolescence 24, 3–27 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537558
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537558