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The Gallup Brain: Gender Expectations, Part I

The Gallup Brain: Gender Expectations, Part I

by Jennifer Robison

An overview of Gallup's historical data looks much like a changing collage of American society. One of the most dramatic points of change has been Americans' views of gender roles. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the questions Gallup has asked about children, because the answers yield insight into society's gender expectations. But often, the questions seen fit to ask are just as revealing; it's very telling, for example, that until late in the century there were many more questions asked about boys than were asked about girls.

Image Conscious

Most Gallup Poll questions about girls relate to their image -- the way adults and parents want girls to appear. As one might imagine, in the early- to mid-20th century most Americans preferred girls to portray themselves as wholesomely as possible.

In 1947, 45% disapproved of girls wearing "slacks" to high school. In 1967, Americans were asked, "Would you object to a daughter of yours wearing a miniskirt, or not?" Sixty-five percent said they would. (Though when asked for a general "opinion of miniskirts," one American answered, "It depends on the wearer -- on the right kind of chassis they look good.") Smoking was another "image" issue around mid-century (since the health risks associated with smoking weren't as widely publicized as they are now). In 1952, Gallup asked at what age one would permit one's daughter to smoke. Fifty-two percent said they would never permit their daughters to smoke, but 10% said smoking before age 18 was acceptable, 19% said at the age of 18, and 13% said between the ages of 19 and 21.

By 1970, women were gaining on men with regard to the percentage attending college. In 1971, Gallup asked, "Some colleges have dormitories where both male and female students live in the same building, but in separate rooms. Suppose you had a daughter going to college, would you mind if she lived in one of these coed dormitories, or not?" Concern was about evenly split -- 46% said they would mind, and 42% said they wouldn't. Gallup didn't ask a corresponding question for sons, suggesting that for boys, living in coed dorms was not seen as a potential risk.

Marriage

In the past, when Gallup asked questions about a (hypothetical) child's marriage, the question usually applied to daughters. In 1937, for example, Gallup asked, "If a girl has her parents' consent to marry, how old should she be before the State permits the marriage?" A majority, 51%, said 18 years old. Twenty-one percent said they would approve of their daughter getting married before age 18, and 24% thought their daughter should be older than 18.

In 1952, Gallup asked, "If you had a daughter who was getting married, and cost didn't matter, would you personally prefer that she have a large church wedding, a small church wedding, or that she be married at home?" Forty-two percent preferred a small church wedding, but a quarter of the public liked the idea of a large church wedding. Twenty-two percent preferred their daughter marry at home.

Career

The idea of gender equality in the workforce was rather controversial at one time, and the variety of "acceptable" jobs for women was limited. A 1950 question asked Americans to choose from a list of jobs they would recommend for girls. The list included actress, airline stewardess, beautician, department store sales clerk, dietician-home economics, doctor, dental technician, dressmaker-fashions, journalist, librarian, model, musician, nurse, secretary, social service worker, and teacher. At that time, 28% said they would recommend a nursing job and 16% would recommend a teaching job. (The list of professions for boys was asked four times between 1949 and 1973, and included professions such as "doctor," "lawyer" and "business executive.")

Female politicians were few and far between when Gallup began polling in the 1930s, but politics is definitely a career option for women today. Gallup did not ask specifically about daughters entering politics until 1991: "If you had a daughter, would you like to see her go into politics as a life's work?" Only 26% answered yes, which is similar to the percentage who say this about their sons. (This question has been asked about hypothetical sons since 1944.)

Key Points

There's no doubt women's roles in America have changed dramatically since the 1930s, as revealed by the questions Gallup asked -- and didn't ask -- over the decades. However, it's a mistake to think that all gender expectations, roles, and preferences are behind us.


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