Feminist Attitudes and Support for Gender Equality: Opinion Change in Women and Men, 1974–1998

• Published in: Social forces Vol. 83; no. 2; pp. 759 - 789
• Main Authors: Bolzendahl, Catherine I., Myers, Daniel J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chapel Hill, NC The University of Chicago Press 01.12.2004; University of North Carolina Press; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Abortion; Analysis; Attitudes; Employed Women; Employment; Equality; Family Characteristics; Family Life; Family roles; Females; Feminism; Feminist theory; Fundamental Concepts; Gender; Gender Differences; Gender Discrimination; Gender equality; Gender equity; Gender inequality; Gender roles; Ideology; Labor Force; Liberalization; Males; Marriage Counseling; Men; Opinion; Opinions; Political attitudes; Political Socialization; Political support; Pregnancy; Premarital sex; Public Opinion; Public sphere; Self Actualization; Sex Fairness; Sex inequality; Sex Role; Sex Role Attitudes; Sex roles; Sexual behavior; Sexuality; Social change. Social innovation. Utopia; Social conditions & trends; Social history; Social organization. Social system. Social structure; Social support; Socialization; Sociology; Spouses; Towards Equality; United States of America; Women; Workforce; Working women; United States Of America; United States; United States > US; Sex equality; Gender; Public Opinion; Gender difference
• ISSN: 0037-7732; 1534-7605
• DOI: 10.1353/sof.2005.0005

This article examines attitudes related to feminism and gender equality by evaluating the trends in, and determinants of, women and men's attitudes from 1974 to 1998. Past accounts suggest two clusters of explanations based on interests and exposure. Using these, we examine opinions on abortion, sexual behavior, public sphere gender roles, and family responsibilities. We find that attitudes have continued to liberalize and converge with the exception of abortion attitudes. The determinants of feminist opinion vary across domains, but have been largely stable. While not identical, the predictors of men and women's opinions are similar. The results suggest the need for more attention to the mechanisms underlying the production of feminist opinions and theoretical integration of both interests and exposure in a dynamic process.