THE EFFECT OF EMPLOYMENT ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENDER-ROLE PREFERENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM IN MARRIED-WOMEN

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships among gender‐role preference, self‐esteem and employment category (full‐time, part‐time, homemaker) while controlling for the effects of income and religion Data were collected from 79 White married women using the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale and a gender‐role preference scale developed by the author Findings indicated that (a) there are significant differences in gender‐role preference among categories of employment, with full‐time workers having more modern views, (b) category of employment did not influence self‐esteem, and (c) women with mixed gender‐role preference had lower self‐esteem than those with modern gender‐role preference The strength of the relationship between self‐esteem and gender‐role preference varied by category of employment Gender‐role preference made a significant contribution as a predictor of self‐esteem (above and beyond the effects of income and religion) for full‐time workers only Copyright © 1991, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved