Abstract
American and Chinese college students’ anticipations showed no gender differences in their desires for postgraduate education, marriage, and parental status. Stereotypical gender differences emerged in both countries when caregiving roles were considered: Both men and women rated it more likely for women than for men to quit their jobs to be caregivers. Overall, male college students, the Chinese men in particular, felt less comfortable than did women in situations where their spouses were superior in earnings, achievements, and social status. More Chinese than American students planned to enter marriage and parenthood at a later age, and the Chinese students rated the importance of family lower. These findings are discussed in light of the general sociocultural model and the role distribution theory.
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Acknowledgments
I thank Mr. Zheng Fan for his work of translating the Chinese version of the study materials back into English; Dr. Denise Wilbur and Ms. Nancy Pohlman for checking the equivalency of the Chinese and English versions; and Kandice Cardona, Hillary Sinnott, and Angela DeCraene for their help with data coding. Heartfelt thanks also go to Dr. Joan Chrisler and the manuscript reviewers for their encouragement and valuable suggestions.
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This study was supported partially by a summer mini-grant issued by the University of St. Francis in 2000.
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Zhou, LY. American and Chinese College Students’ Anticipations of Their Postgraduate Education, Career, and Future Family Roles. Sex Roles 55, 95–110 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-006-9063-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-006-9063-6