ATTITUDE TOWARDS MASCULINITY NORMS BY YOUNG AND MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS

Abstract

Since decades there has been gender role expectations and gender role norms imposed on people around the world. Especially in a country like India with rigid social norms, these expectations are elevated. This study aimed to explore the attitude of two groups of people, young and middle-aged adults, on the aspect of masculinity norms, find out the extent to which they accept or deny these strict gender norms and compare both the groups if they had any difference in their attitudes towards the traditional masculinity norms.
Objectives: To identify and compare the attitude towards male role norms in young adults and middle-aged adults.
Methods:Sample size N=80. Sample 1 - young adults aged 18-21; Sample 2 - middle-aged adults aged 45-65. Participants were chosen from Chennai. Both male and female participants were included. Data collected through: Male Role Norms Scale (developed by Thompson and Pleck in 1986). Purposive sampling technique was used.
Results: Independent sample t test results revealed that there is a significant difference in the factors status and toughness (p < 0.001)and antifemininity (p < 0.05)
Conclusion: There is a significant difference in attitudes towards masculinity norms among young and middle-aged adults.