Male and Female Between Role and Personality

Autori u članku analiziraju promjene uloga spolova u društvu oslanjajući se na instrumente razvijene u istraživanju vrednota u Europi (European Value Study). Hipoteza koju testiraju jest: proces individualizacije zahvatio je i hrvatsko društvo i odražava se na promjene uloga spolova u društvu. Ta se hipoteza potvrdila. No, društvo nije homogeno individualizirano. Mlade žene, u dobi od 18 do 24 godine, pokazuju značajno veći stupanj individualiziranosti od ostatka populacije. U razvoju individualizacije, za koju autori smatraju da je proces koji se ne može zaustaviti, autori naglašavaju mogućnost personalizacije, pronalaženja novog ekvilibrija među spolovima u horizontu nepovredivog dostojanstva ljudske osobe, čije utemeljenje autori izvode iz judeokršćanskog učenja o čovjeku stvorenom, kao »muško« i »žensko« na Božju sliku.The authors emphasise that gender is not only a biological category and not only biologically conditioned, but that various social connotations and interpretations of gender roles in society need to be borne in mind. The idea of equality of the sexes develops on the basis of Judeo-Christian teachings about man, »male« and »female« created in the image of God, from which, the authors stress, develops the concept of human dignity and human rights. The basic hypothesis that they are testing is: the process of individualisation has firmly caught hold of Croatian society and influenced changes in gender roles in society. Results of research carried out in Croatia were compared to results of research carried out in other European countries in 1991 - the European Value Study project (EVS) -with particular attention paid to France and Ireland. Research is done on the basis of a questionnaire that has been standardised for all counties participating in EVS-99. The first variable that is analysed relates to the employment of mothers with children. 73.5% of Croatians state that a working mother is equally able to establish a quality relationship with her child as is a mother who does not work. The same percentage was found in France in 1990 (72%). In Croatia, the percentage of those agreeing with the above statement is significantly higher among women, particularly women in the 18 to 24 age group (90.3%). The second statement is that a preschool aged child will suffer if his mother works. 55.6% of respondents agree with this statement, although for women in the 18 to 24 age group the percentage agreeing is only 36%. 54.7% of respondents agree with the statement that what women really want is a home and children, while for men across all age groups the percentage is 60%. For women the percentage varies according to age group; 79.6% of women over 55 agree with the statement, compared to 38.4% of women between the ages of 18 and 24. Next is the statement that the work of a housewife is as fulfilling as paid employment. 45,3% of respondents agree with this statement, about 50% of men across all age groups, about 60% of women over 55, and 36% of women between 18 and 24 years of age, 73.6% of respondents agree with the statement that employment is the best way for a woman to be independent. The percentage is over 80% for female respondents across all age groups, while for male respondents the percentage varies according to age group. It is interesting to note that young respondents more rarely agree that employment is necessary for a woman to be independent. The greatest level of agreement was with the statement that for houshold upkeep both spouses need to work, and there were no differences according to gender. 94.4% of respondents agree with the statement. 68.3% of respondents agree with the statement that fathers are equally capable of taking care of children, with a greater percentage of men agreeing than women. Women also more often agree that men are less capable of controlling their emotions in interpersonal relations. It has been noted that men consider themselves equally competent to women in traditional female roles, and that women consider themselves equally competent to men in traditional male roles. This inversion indicates that the process of transformation of gender roles is not yet complete. Regarding religiosity, results show that women over 25 go to church more often than men, while this percentage evens out far the 18 to 24 age group. Abortion for a woman who is unmarried is approved of by between 50 and 60% depending on the age group, while among women the percentage grows to 68% for the 18 to 24 age group. Abortion for a couple who do not want more children is approved of by 45-50% of men, and 55-60% of women. Among those who attend church at least once a week, abortion for a young girl that gets pregnant is approved of by 39.5% of men and 36% of women. For the 18 to 24 age group, 48% of men approve, and 49% of women. Abortion for a couple not wanting more children is approved of by 31,6% of men and 29.4% of women believers, and the percentages far the 18 to 24 age group, 37% if men approve, and 39.4% of women. These figures are quite high considering that they refer to practising believers, those who could be counted among »core members«. With respect to political preferences, women more often more highly value equality, and men freedom. Finally, the authors conclude that men across all age groups are more strongly under the influence of traditional views of gender roles in society, while among women there has been a notable shift in the direction of individualisation. With respect to gender roles, young women demonstrate a significantly higher degree of individualisation than the rest of Croatian society, even than their male peers. They conclude that the proposed hypothesis regarding the influence of the process of individualisation on Croatian society is confirmed. This process has taken hold of Croatian society in various dynamics and levels of intensity. This influence is most evident among young women between the ages of 18 and 24. The authors stress the need for the process of individualisation to be followed by the process of personalisation, in order to avoid falling once again into collectivism based on new principles