Parental Attitudes on Gender-Role Socializaion of the Male Child

Abstract

This study was conducted with the aim of understanding the attitudes of parents on the gender-role socialization of their male child/ren. Specifically, the study aimed to: (1) describe the parental attitudes on gender role under the seven socialization areas of the male child ages six to twelve (6-12) measured in the study; (2) compare paternal and maternal attitudes on gender role socialization of the male child; and (3) compare the attitudes of parents who belong to different age groups, namely: (A) parents aged forty years old and above, and (B) parents aged thirty-nine years old and below. To achieve these objectives, data were gathered from 100 parents residing at Dasmarinas, Cavite to answer the survey-questionnaire designed for this study. From this sample, 8 agreed to be interviewed and for the validation of the parents’ responses, a series of Focused-Group Discussions (FGD) were conducted involving male children ages 6 to 11 years old. The study revolved around 7 gender-role domains considered, namely: aggression, appearance, child discipline, homosexuality, household chores, play, and social behavior (crying, gender-role differences, gender traits, circumcision, relationships and desired profession). The results were analyzed through frequency and percentage, mean per item scores, independent t-test, proportions and distributions. Analysis of the data revealed the following conclusions: (1) there is no significant difference in the attitudes of male and female respondents, and (2) there is a significant difference (.005) between the attitudes of parents belonging to the two age groups. The aforementioned results were supported by the qualitative data gathered through the questionnaire’s partially-closed questions, in-depth interviews and FGDs.