Hofstede (1980) studied work related attitudes across 50 countries. He conducted a large scale survey of work related values in a major multinational corporation. Based on the data obtained, he generated four dimensions of differentiation among the cultures in his sample. One of these dimensions was called masculinity (MA). This dimension refers to the degree to which a culture will foster, encourage, or maintain differences between males and females. Cultures scoring high on MA tended to endorse items and values thought to be associated with masculinity and male gender roles in the work place. Japan, Austria, Venezuela, and Italy had the highest MA scores. Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden had the lowest.
Although Hofsede’s (1980) study focused entirely on work-related values, his finding are however relevant in explaining that cultures will arrive at different ways of dealing with differences between men and women. Cultures vary in how they act on these gender differences, with some cultures fostering and encouraging great differences between the genders and other cultures minimizing those differences. It is precisely these cultural differences in gender roles that Hofstede’s data on MA address.
The aim of this research was to investigate opinions about gender roles in cultural context using Williams and best (1982) study on gender stereotypes across cultures as a framework for discussion.
Method
Participants
The respondent for the interview was a female psychology student at the University of Lincoln. She described herself as White British with English as her only fluently spoken language.
Setting
The interview took place at the University atrium at a time when it was quite.
The interview schedule
The full interview schedule is presented in Appendix One. The biographical information questions included the participants self report on culture of origin, spoken language and opinion on whether participants perceives her culture was individualistic or collectivist.
The following main themes formed the basis of the interview schedule; opinions about gender stereotypes, opinions on gender roles, and whether gender roles varies across cultures. These questions were influenced by cross-cultural studies of gender stereotypes and roles across cultures. Studies looked at included Williams and Best (1982), and Hofstede (1980).
Procedure
The respondent was first thanked for accepting to participate. The purpose of the interview was explained to her as being a first year assessed project on people’s opinions on gender roles. The respondent was assured of the anonymity and confidentiality of her answers. She was asked whether she had any questions before the interview begins. Then she was asked if she was ready to be interviewed and also informed that she could end the interview at any time. After gaining her consent the interview began.
Responses were taped recorded and transcribed later by interviewer. The interview lasted approximately twelve minutes.
Ethical consideration
The respondent was assured that her answers were both confidential and anonymous. She was told that the interview was required for an assessed first year Psychology in Cultural context unit. She was asked for her permission and consent before the tape recording of the interview began. The respondent was also told that she could end the at any time.
Results and Discussion
The responses to questions were discussed with reference to William and Best (1982) study on gender stereotypes across cultures and Hofstede’s (1980) study on work related values.
With reference to Appendix 2, the respondent was of the opinion that it doesn’t really matter in her culture whether a first baby was a boy or girl. In the context of Williams and Best study, she could be seen as expressing a fairly typical opinion of individualistic societies. According to the study individualistic societies had less consensus on gender roles than collectivist. It may have also been that her country valued harmony and egalitarianism. The respondent’s opinions in this respect appear to reflect such cultural values. However this contrasted to her response on whether her culture was individualistic or collectivist. Her response to this question tended to label her culture as being more collectivist. She said:
“My culture of origin is divided on whether it puts emphasis on the group or the individual as some would say it is group and others would say it is down to the individual as for me I would say it is a group but that some do perceive it to be an individual.”
The respondent stated that she was the only child and so couldn’t come to a precise conclusion as to how household task should be divided between male and female children. However she said in her own case that all she had to do was to keep her room clean and sometimes helps mum with housework. Also she could not tell precisely whether boys and girls are disciplined differently. She said being an only child her parents treated her like an angel. However after the interview she pointed out that in the case of her friends who had brothers, the boys seemed to get into more trouble than the girls for doing something wrong. In this instance William et al (1990) study on gender stereotypes seem to be influential. The study established that across all age groups, children in most countries were familiar with the male stereotype than with the female. This more or less accounted for her response that boys seem to get into more trouble.
The respondent gave a more egalitarian response as to who should be head of the household. She said:
“I think it should be equal, I don't think there should be one set person to be the head they should both make decisions together.”
In the context of Hofstede’s (1980) study on work-related, her culture could be seen as scoring low on masculinity. This study also explained why she thought who so ever earns more money should be the family’s main bread winner. And that it should not definitely be the man or the woman. She had no preference between men and women as to who should be a boss. This also tells that her culture scores low on masculinity.
Personal Reflections
I have learned more about Williams and Best study on gender stereotypes across cultures and found it useful for interpreting the interview. As the respondent comes from a different cultural background to myself, it was useful for me to learn opinions from another culture. William and Best study was useful in providing a model to think about culture and how the ideas we were discussing can be related to culture. As my country of origin is Nigeria and my culture being more collectivist, I found her opinions very useful. It gave me an insight on how gender roles differed between the two cultures.
The interview did not succeed in providing as much information on opinions about gender role in cultural context as is required. However it gave me some insight about gender stereotypes in the respondent’s culture.
The respondent was chosen because she was from a different culture to myself. Although the interview went well in that she was able to answer all the questions, she did not have very firm answers for her opinions, probably because she is the only child. For future interviews I would chose someone who has both male and female siblings.
References
Ashmore, R.D. (1990). Sex, gender, and the individual. In L.Pervin (Ed.), Handbook on personality: theory of research (pp486-526). New York: Guilford press.
Hotstede, G. (1980). Culture’s consequences: International differences in work-related values. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Williams, J.E., & Best, D.L. (1982). Measuring sex stereotypes: A thirty-nation study. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Williams, J.E., & Best, D.L. (1990). Measuring sex stereotypes: A multination study. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Williams, J & Best, D. (1990). Sex and psyche: gender and self viewed cross-culturally. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
APPENDIX ONE
Interview schedule
Please can you tell me a little about yourself?
1. What do u consider to be your culture of origin?
2. What languages do you speak fluently?
3. Do you think that your culture of origin places more emphasis on the group or the
individual?
Now I would like to ask you a few questions about gender roles.
4. Do parents prefer a male or female baby as the first born? and why?
5. How are household task divided between male and female children?
6. Are boys and girls disciplined differently at home?
7. What do u think are the roles of father's and of mothers in the house?
8. Who do you think should be the head of the house?
9. Who should be a family's main provider or breadwinner?
10. Should a boss be a man or a woman?
APPENDIX TWO
Interview transcript
The Interviewer is denoted as “I” and the respondent as “R”. This was done to preserve anonymity of the respondent.
I: Hello. How are you doing today?
R: I’m fine thanks
I: Thank you for accepting to participate in my project. As I told you in the e-mail I sent you I am carrying out an interview as part of my coursework for my first year Psychology in Cultural Context unit. I am interested in studying people’s opinions on gender roles.
And I would like to ask you a few questions about your view or opinions on gender roles. I just want to inform you that your answers will remain confidential and anonymous. And also remember that I will not use your name at any time. I will also need to record your answers but you can end the interview at any time.
Do you agree to continue with the interview?
R: Yes I do its fine.
I: Do u have any other questions before we start?
R: No
I: As we discussed earlier, do you still agree to this interview being taped?
R: Of course you can. I don’t mind at all.
I: OK. I would start by asking you a few questions about yourself. What do u consider to be your culture of origin?
R: White British
I: .What languages do you speak fluently?
R: English only but I wish I had taken my French and German GCSEs more seriously and I wish I could speak another language fluently.
I: Do you think that your culture of origin places more emphasis on the group or the individual?
R: My culture of origin is divided on whether it puts emphasis on the group or the individual as some would say it is group and others would say it is down to the individual as for me I would say it is a group but that some do perceive it to be an individual.
I: That was great. Now I would like to ask you a few questions about your opinions on gender roles. Do parents prefer a male or female baby as the first born? and why?
R: In my culture I don't think people are generally bothered what sex their 1st baby is they are just pleased to be having a baby, maybe they have some preference as to which is first for men it is a boy and for women it is a girl but when they baby is born if it is the opposite sex it doesn't really matter
I: How are household task divided between male and female children?
R: Well I am an only child so it is different for me, all I have to do is keep my bedroom clean and occasionally help my mum with the housework if I don't have any important work to do.
I: Are boys and girls disciplined differently at home?
R: I can get away with almost anything with my mum and dad as I am perceived by my parents as an angel.
I: What do u think are the roles of fathers and of mothers in the house?
R: Mums should be the ones who can tell when their child is upset about something and try and make them feel better, my mum is like my best friend and I can go to her about anything and she always knows what to say when I am down. As for the dad of the household he should be the one you go to if you need money or want advise on something your mum can't help you with, but I can go to my dad about anything like I can my mum.
I: Who do you think should be the head of the house?
R: I think it should be equal, I don't think there should be one set person to be the head they should both make decisions together.
I: Who should be a family's main provider or breadwinner?
R: Who ever earns the most money, it shouldn't definitely be the man or the woman.
I: Should a boss be a man or a woman?
R: A boss should be whoever can be a boss and manage people and make employees feel they can go to that person about anything, it shouldn't be done by sex it should be done who is best qualified.
I: Thank you for spending your time to participate in my interview. It has been very useful and interesting talking to you. Are there any questions about the interview or my project, or is there any thing you would like to add?
R: I would just like to add before we end the interview that my views are more likely to be open as I am and only child and my parents don't really have any specific views about how households should run and so those views have been passed on to me. I would also like to point out that with my friends who are female who have brothers it seems that the boys get into more trouble than the girl if she does something wrong. Also those who have older siblings tend to get away with more as they can say it is their older siblings fault and their sibling gets into trouble not them. More often though the parents will automatically blame the older child even if both children were doing the same thing. Also most of my female friends who have brothers neither of them have to really do certain things around the house apart from keep their room clean and like me the girl has to occasionally help their mother with their housework.
