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Cross-ethnic Applicability of the Gender-based Attitudes Toward Marriage and Child Rearing Scales

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Abstract

The reliability and validity of Hoffman and Kloska’s (1995) Gender-based Attitudes toward Marital Roles (GATMR) and Gender-based Attitudes toward Child Rearing (GATCR) were assessed for a sample of Mexican American mothers and fathers (n = 167) of fifth-grade children in a large metropolitan area in the southwestern United States. Factor analysis was conducted, and the results suggest that the 6-item GATMR is conceptually distinct and reliable for this ethnic group. Correlation of GATMR scores for mothers and fathers with divisions of family labor suggest good validity. A 5-item revised GATCR demonstrated modest reliability and good construct validity. The value of these scales for work with Mexican American families is noted. Theoretical implications for gender socialization are explored, and suggestions for further research are offered.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Tulane University, 220 Newcomb Hall, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA

    Michele Adams

  2. Department of Sociology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA

    Scott Coltrane

  3. Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA

    Ross D. Parke

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  1. Michele Adams
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  2. Scott Coltrane
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  3. Ross D. Parke
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Correspondence to Michele Adams.

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This research was supported by Grant # MH 54154-01A2 from the National Institute of Mental Health.

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Adams, M., Coltrane, S. & Parke, R.D. Cross-ethnic Applicability of the Gender-based Attitudes Toward Marriage and Child Rearing Scales. Sex Roles 56, 325–339 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-006-9174-0

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