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Gender role orientation and conflict as predictors of family roles for men

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Abstract

This study examined men's gender role factors (i.e., gender role orientation and gender role conflict) as they contribute to the formation of either traditional, participant, or rolesharing family roles in men. Responses from 71 married, mostly Caucasian, dual-career family men on measures of gender role orientation, gender role conflict, and measures of participation in child care and management of the household were analyzed. Results indicated that (a) rolesharing husbands were more likely to view their wives' interests as equal to their own as compared to participant and traditional husbands; (b) rolesharing husbands had less traditional attitudes about husbands'/fathers' authority than traditional husbands; and (c) traditional husbands reported greater pressure to be successful, powerful, and competitive compared to rolesharing and participant husbands.

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With the exception of the proper name “Sex Role Inventory”, the term “gender role” was used throughout the text in place of “sex role.” The two authors contributed equally to this article. We wish to thank Mary Brabeck for her feedback on an earlier version of this paper.

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Mintz, R.D., Mahalik, J.R. Gender role orientation and conflict as predictors of family roles for men. Sex Roles 34, 805–821 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01544317

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