Journal Press India^®

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In recent past most significant social transformation in India has been the increase in dual earning couples. Therefore the objective of the present research was to identify the gender role ideology prevalent in single and dual earning couples. To assess the gender role ideology a self constructed tool was filled by 48 couples from single earning families and 46 couples from dual earning families. The results depict that 75% males from single earner families and 67.39% males from dual earner families were having traditional gender ideology. Males were more stereotyped rather than females in single (t=5.61) as well as dual earning families (t=5.83). Majority of males and females, who were having traditional gender ideology, responded more on traditional perception (52.78%, 67.74%) for its justification. There is a significant difference in attitude of females of single earning families and dual earning families. It is evident from t value (6.06) that females of single earner families were more stereotyped in comparison to females of dual earner families. Females of dual earner families want more sharing of roles and responsibilities (54.35%) than their counterparts (32.61%). Females having egalitarian gender ideology justified it on the basis of equal division of labour. It shows that gender role perception is showing greater changes in dual earning families. Although the change is very slow but the change is occurring.

Keywords

Single earning families, Dual earning families, Gender role ideology.

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