The Socialization of Sex-Roles and Fertility Ideals: A Study of two Generations in Toronto

Abstract

A pilot study was conducted in Canada to assess intergenerational change and continuity with regard to sex-roles and fertility ideals. 95 mother-adolescent child pairs in metropolitan Toronto were studied. The pairs were: 1) British-origin Protestant; 2) Italian-origin Catholic; or 3) European-origin Jewish. Agreement between mothers and children on the following 5 areas was measured: 1) sex-role stereotypes; 2) sex-role self-concepts; 3) sex-role standards; 4) parenthood satisfactions; and 5) family size ideals. Mother-son and mother-daughter comparisons were similar. There is no gap between generations in the sex-role stereotype or sex-role self-concept scores. The younger generation was less traditional in their sex-role standards had lower fertility ideals and saw children less often as providing their own role. The most change in these attitudes occurred among children of the more traditional families resulting in a convergence of views among religious groups in the 2nd generation. It is seen that specific socialization experiences within the family rather than demographic variables seem to be more influential in the choice of sex-roles and fertility preference. Children differed most from their mothers in situations where the maternal role model had been viewed as inappropriate.