Ταυτότητες φύλου στην οικογένεια: γονεϊκές πεποιθήσεις και πρακτικές και η υποκειμενική εμπειρία του ανδρισμού και της θηλυκότητας εκ μέρους των εφήβων

Abstract

The aim of the present doctoral thesis is to investigate the role of the family in the formation of gender identities during adolescence. The theoretical background is that of the feminist approach on the formation of gender identity in combination with the approach of systemic theory concerning the study of the family. More specifically, the thesis aims to investigate: a) The parents’ attitudes on gender roles, their socialization practices, the pattern of family roles as well as the relation of each of the above factors to the parents’ sex, their educational level, the mother’s occupational situation and the composition of the family. b) The adolescents’ attitudes on gender roles, and whether their attitudes are predicted by their parents’ views and by their experiences within the family context. c) The relation between the parents’ attitudes on gender roles (in general) and their attitudes on boys and girls, their socialization practices and the pattern of family roles they offer to their sons and daughters. The sample consisted of 389 families from the geographical area of Thessaloniki, Greece. Data analysis showed that: a) the adolescents’ socialization experiences within the family are different for boys and girls and in agreement with traditional views about masculinity and femininity, b) the parents treat differently their boys and girls, especially with regard to household duties, sexuality and permissiveness, c) a high educational level and the rejection of the traditional ideology concerning gender roles does not necessarily mean that parents treat their boys and girls equally, d) the pattern of family roles follows the traditional division of labor within the family, e) mixed-families present a context which reinforces the development of a more close relationship between the parent and the adolescent of the same-sex, as well as a context in which the differential treatment of boys and girls is more intense – however, the composition of the family does not influence parents’ socialization practices with regard to household tasks and sexuality, and f) it seems that adolescents construct masculinity and femininity on the basis of traditional views about gender roles and that they are influenced by their parents’ attitudes on gender roles as well as their experiences within the family context.