An Exploration of the Relationship of College Women's Feminist Identity Development and Their Perceptions of Their Male Romantic Partners' Conformity to Masculine Norms
Year: 2015
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Established feminist identity and attitudes have been widely related to positive individual mental health and well-being aspects for women.However, Fischer and Good (2004) suggest that feminist identity may result in challenges in relationships due to judgment from others.One question is whether feminist women want to and do engage in romantic relationships with those who also reject traditional gender norms.The current project used the Downing and Roush (1985) feminist identity development model consisting of five feminist attitude dimensions, as well as feminist self-identification, to explore the relation of feminist identity to women's perceptions of ideal and actual partners' conformity to nine masculine norms developed by Mahalik et al. (2003).Further, the relation between women's feminist identity and attitudes, their perceptions of their current partners' conformity to masculine norms, and relationship satisfaction was explored.A sample of 170 emerging adult college women in other-sex romantic relationships of at least three months were given measures of feminist identification and attitudes, their ideal partners' conformity to masculine norms, their perceptions of their current partners' conformity to masculine norms, and relationship satisfaction.Individuals with established feminist identities were found to prefer partners who did not conform to Power Over Women, Heterosexual Self-Presentation, Emotional Control, Self-Reliance, and Playboy norms, and perceived their current partners as not conforming to norms of Power Over Women, Heterosexual Self-Presentation, and Primacy of Work.iv However, individuals with developing feminist identities perceived their partners as conforming to several masculine norms.Women's ideal partners' conformity to masculine norms correlated with their perceptions of their actual partners' conformity, and, regardless of women's feminist identity and attitudes, their perceptions of their partner's conformity to masculine norms negatively predicted relationship satisfaction.This study extends previous research that suggests that women with feminist attitudes and identities prefer more egalitarian partners who do not conform to masculine norms by examining existing relationships.These findings indicate the importance of examining how feminist variables relate to romantic relationships.They also suggest that discussion of feminist values and conformity to masculine norms may be important in exploring relationship satisfaction in therapy.v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There are many individuals without whom I could not have earned this degree.First, I would like to thank my dissertation chair and advisor, Dr. Ingrid Weigold, for providing feedback on countless drafts and being an amazing mentor as I went through this process.I could not have asked for a better role model of what it means to be a counseling psychologist, and she inspires me with her drive, dedication, and passion for research.I would also like to
Author: Elizabeth J. Russell
Institution: University of Akron
Language: English
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Gender equality
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2522279583