Intrafamiliar congruence in gender-role ideology: Husband-wife versus parents-offspring

The study examined intrafamiliar congruence (i.e., mother-father and parent-offspring) in gender role ideology (gender role attitudes and sex- typing of occupations) among a sample of Israeli fathers, mothers, and adolescent offspring (n=134 in each group). The findings revealed a relatively high correlation between spouses for gender role attitudes, but only a moderate correlation for sex-typing of occupations. Similarly, a moderate correlation was found between parents and offspring in both aspects of gender role ideology. Out of all family members, mothers expressed the most liberal gender role ideology, whereas fathers were the most conservative. Moreover, a correlation was found between religiosity and gender role ideology. In addition, mothers of Asian-African origin and their husbands expressed more gender role attitudes than did mothers born in other countries. Among all family members gender role attitudes and occupational sex-typing were interrelated.