Investigating the Effects of Modernization on the Division Pattern of Gender Roles in Rural Areas (Study of rural areas of Amlash city)

Abstract

The present study was conducted with the purpose of investigating the effects of modernization on the Division Pattern of Gender Roles.Survey Research Method is used for this study and it is based on a sample including 227 individuals and they are living in two suburbs of Amlash city which are Azarbon Alia and Azarbon Sofla. The division pattern of gender roles has been investigated using five parameters. It was expected that older people are less tended to accept gender equality in division of roles. But, the study indicated that division pattern of roles is the same among different age groups. In investigating the relationship between pattern of gender roles and individuals’ gender, the respondents whose gender were different, believed in gender equality in division of labour. Also, people with higher socioeconomic status believed in egalitarianism more than people with lower socioeconomic status. In this study, modernization has been evaluated from four dimensions (cultural, social, economic, and political); the study indicated that modernization has changed the traditional division pattern of gender roles, and with people influenced by modern elements, gender attitudes against division of roles has been decreased, and also division of household and social roles are changing toward gender equality.