Gender Differences in Traditional Attitudes Toward Marriage and the Family

Abstract

This study compares Iranian male and female immigrants in the United States on their attitudes toward marriage and the family. Participants were 160 Iranians in the United States. A 10-item attitude scale measured the degree of traditional attitudes (a stand taken in the prevalent Iranian culture as opposed to that in the mainstream American society) toward premarital sex, marriage, and the family. Results showed Iranian men scored significantly higher than Iranian women on the traditional attitude scale ( p < .05, effect size estimate = .39). Gender difference remained significant after adjusting for participants' age. The attitudinal disparity between Iranian male and female immigrants observed in this study can provide an explanation for a high rate of marital dissolution among Iranians in the United States. Findings can also help in understanding some underlying issues that contribute to intra- and interpersonal tension among the immigrants with implications in marital and family therapy.