Attitudes Towards Gender Roles Among

College Students
Jenaya Nathan, Johnson C. Smith University, Department of Health and Human Performance, Senior Paper Presentation, April 6, 2023

Abstract Methods and Data Analysis Results

• Few studies have examined perception of gender roles among college students. Therefore,
the purpose of the study was to examine the attitudes towards gender roles among college • Participants were college students at Johnson C. Smith University.
students.
• Data was collected using a modified version of the gender roles attitudes scale (García-
• Data was collected using a modified version of the gender roles attitudes scale (García-
Cuetoa, Rodríguez-Díaza,Bringas-Molledaa, López-Ceperob, Paíno-Quesadac, and Cuetoa, Rodríguez-Díaza,Bringas-Molledaa, López-Ceperob, Paíno-Quesadac, and
Rodríguez-Francob, 2014).The responses on the questionnaire ranged from 1 to 5 on a Rodríguez-Francob, 2014).
Likert scale with 1 being Strongly Disagree to 5 being Strongly Agree. Independent t-test
and ANOVA were utilized to determine the difference between demographic categories and • The responses on the questionnaire ranged from 1 to 5 with 1 being Strongly
the gender role questions, alpha = .05.
Disagree to 5 being Strongly Agree
• Students reported means above 3.5 for the following questions: Question #1, “People can
be aggressive and understanding, regardless of their sex ”, M = 3.73,” Question #2, “People • Sample questions on the questionnaire included: A father's main responsibility is to
should be treated equally, regardless of their sex, M = 4.00”, Question #3, “Children should
be given freedom, depending on their age, and how mature they are, not depending on help his children financially, People should be treated equally, regardless of their sex,
their sex, M = 3.56, Question #4, “Boys have the same obligations to help with household Boys have the same obligations to help with household chores as girls, Household
chores as girls, M = 3.80”, and Question #15, “Household chores should not be allocated
by sex, M = 3.96”. chores should not be allocated by sex, and We should stop thinking about whether
• Analysis of variance revealed a significant difference between Classification and Question people are men or women and focus on characteristics.
#11, “Girls should be more clean and tidy than boys”, (F = 2.568 p = .045) and Question
#19, “Only some kinds of jobs are equally appropriate for men and women”, (F = 2.29, p • The variables of the study were the following;
= .068).
• Independent variable: Demographics
• More studies are needed among historically black colleges and universities.
Recommendations are made to further educate college students in improving their attitudes • Dependent variable: Attitudes towards gender roles among college students.
towards gender roles.
• Independent t-test and ANOVA were utilized to determine the difference
between demographic categories and the perception of gender role questions.
Background • The data was analyzed using .05 level of significance. The Qualtrics, Excel, and
SPSS programs were used to perform the statistical analysis
■ In today's generation everyone is so heavily influenced on their perception to
others. Gender Roles and attitudes towards gender are constantly changing, students
and young people should be aware of how this in the box thinking can have an
impact.​ Results
■ Gender roles can be defined as sexist stereotypes, beliefs about behavior patterns
that are assumed appropriate for women and men in society. The child is raised per
the behavioral patterns required by his gender, depending on whether he is a boy or
a girl from birth (Acuner, 2019)​
■ Gender roles in society means how we’re expected to act, speak, dress, groom, and
conduct ourselves based upon our assigned sex. For example, girls and women are
generally expected to dress in typically feminine ways and be polite,
accommodating, and nurturing. Men are generally expected to be strong,
aggressive, and bold. Once you step outside of that there can be negative
repercussions. (Ali, 2017)

Research Hypotheses Conclusion and Recommendations

■ There will be no significant difference
between classification of the student and
their perception of gender roles.​
■ There will be no significant difference
between males and females and their
perception of gender roles.