Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Award Date

2024

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department / School

Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies

First Advisor

Abdallah M. Badahdah

Abstract

This study explores public attitudes towards parental roles in childcare and financial support, employing Risman’s theory of gender as a social structure as the theoretical framework. Utilizing data from the General Social Survey (GSS) of 2022, the research examines how gender and age influence attitudes about the involvement of mothers and fathers in children’s lives. The analysis reveals significant gendered attitudes. That is, women demonstrate a greater tendency towards supporting equitable sharing of childcare duties and financial responsibilities. Conversely, with men often endorsing traditional roles for mothers as primary caregivers and men as primary financial providers. The study also identifies a generational shift, with younger parents showing more progressive attitudes towards equal distribution of childcare duties and financial responsibilities compared to older parents. By integrating Risman’s interactional, institutional, and individual levels of analysis, the findings underscore the persistence of traditional gender scripts and their impact on family dynamics. The results highlight the influence of socio-demographic variables such as income, education, race, marital status, and work status on these attitudes. This research provides valuable insights for policy development and educational programs aimed at promoting gender equity in parenting, emphasizing the need to address deeply ingrained attitudes about parental roles.

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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Rights Statement

In Copyright