ANDROCENTRIC GENDER ROLE ORIENTATION OF MOTHERS AND ITS IMPACT ON FAMILY LIFE IN AN URBAN AREA OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

The study mainly focused on the gender role orientation of mother in their early life and its impact on their family life. For this purpose, data were collected from 150 mothers of three distinct educational groups (Group1: Class I-V; Group 2: VI- SSC passed; Group 3: HSC passed and above), living in Khulna City Corporation of Bangladesh. Findings reveal that respondents’ father had more significant role in household decisions (mean of Group-1; 19.60, Group-2; 19.48, and Group-3; 20) compared to respondents’ mothers (mean of Group-1; 11.76, Group-2; 14.86, and Group-3; 15.72). Similar situation was observed between the respondents and their husbands in their family sphere. Consequently, low freedom was given to respondents’ daughters to move outside or mobilize in social sphere compared to sons. Most of the mothers (Group-1; 84%, Group-2; 94%, and Group-3; 88%) expected their daughters to perform household chores after their marriage and they do the same (Group-1; 86%, Group-2; 94% and Group-3; 84%) from their daughter-in-laws. Findings also indicate that gender stereotypic socialization of mothers influenced their family life. Statistically significant correlation (p<.000) was found between the family decision making power of the respondents’ mothers/fathers and the respondents/respondents’ husbands. Likewise, it was explicit that with the educational variations of mothers, differences of response were found where the utmost educational group practiced somewhat better gender role anticipation compared to others.