Attitudes towards Role and Status of Women in India: A Comparison of Three Generations of Men and Women

Abstract

The study examined the extent of change in attitude towards the role and status of women in samples representing three generations. Two constellations of attitudes were selected i.e.: gender role egalitarianism issues relevant to the Indian women. The sample (n=200) was drawn taking family as a unit belonging to three generations of sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, and grandfathers and grandmothers. The women demonstrated greater gender role egalitarianism regarding employment and social roles while men were more against the system of dowry and harassment of women; respondents in the younger generations were more nontraditional than those in the older generations; among the younger generations women were more nontraditional than men but among the older generations they are less nontraditional than men. The areas such as practice of dowry, women’s right to inheritance and violence against women were very resistant to attitudinal change. The findings implicate the need for corrective measures by way of practicing, advocating and teaching gender role egalitarianism to both men and women.