An Analysis of the Axiological Structures of Traditional and Proliberation Men and Women

Abstract

This study investigated the relation between attitudes toward the women's liberation movement and personal values. It was hypothesized that proliberation respondents would differ from traditional respondents in overall axiological structure. The Sex-Role Standards Measure and the Rokeach Value Survey were completed by 53 male and 77 female college students. Median splits yielded two orientations for each sex, designated as proliberation and traditional. Median tests disclosed numerous significant differences in value rankings between the groups, suggesting that proliberation males favored changes in social goals while proliberation females favored alteration of the female role. It was concluded that women's liberation was not viewed as a purely political issue. Differences between groups were attributed to the proliberation ideological emphasis on self-actualization. Implications of the gender-specific perception of women's liberation were discussed.