This dissertation is accessible only to the Illinois State University community.
- Off-Campus ISU Users: To download this item, click the "Off-Campus Download" button below. You will be prompted to log in with your ISU ULID and password.
- Non-ISU Users: Contact your library to request this item through interlibrary loan.
Graduation Term
Summer 2025
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Department of Politics and Government: Political Science
Committee Chair
L.J Zigerell
Committee Member
Noha Shawki
Committee Member
Carl Palmer
Abstract
Patriarchal views correlate with negative effects and injustice towards women globally. Previous studies on gender attitudes have generally failed to distinguish belief in male superiority from traditional gender roles. This thesis examines the separate impacts of the belief in male superiority and the belief in traditional gender roles, utilizing data from 63 countries in the World Values Survey wave 7, which was conducted from 2017 to 2020. The findings indicate that the belief in male superiority is significantly correlated with the justification of violence against the wife, violence against children, and violence against others, and the evasion of civic duties, while belief in traditional gender roles is not. Conversely, traditional gender roles seem to have a more significant negative correlation with the justification of abortion than male superiority has. The correlations regarding divorce are essentially the same for both traditional gender roles and male superiority. These findings underscore the need to differentiate between male superiority and traditional gender roles, as the implications for interventions or policy modifications may vary depending on the specific ideas being addressed. This differentiation can facilitate the development of targeted educational initiatives, media campaigns, and legal reforms aimed at confronting beliefs in male superiority and challenging patriarchal attitudes within society, while also paving the way for future research on the wider societal implications of hierarchical versus role-based patriarchal norms.
Access Type
Thesis-ISU Access Only
Recommended Citation
Barua, Proma, "Assessing the Impact of Traditional Gender Roles and Belief in Male Superiority on Attitudes towards Social Issues: Evidence from The World Values Survey" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 2186.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/2186
DOI
https://doi.org/10.30707/ETD.1763755358.774818