Dasgupta, S., & Basu, J. (2011). Marital quality and gender role stereotype.Psychological Studies, 56(4), 360-367. dio:10.1007/s12346-011-0105-y
This article looks into the relationships between marital quality and gender role stereotypes. It found that better marital quality often came from preferences towards traditional gender role patterns. One cohort of the study, nonworking women, who reported modern gender role attitudes were also associated with positive marital outcomes, but this result was not true for other groups. Basically they found that the more traditional gender role attitudes and behaviors you have, the happier your marriage will be. I thought that this was an interesting article, it repeated a lot of the things I already know/have learned about though. I feel like every article I have read has said that traditional gender roles bring more happiness in relationships and are viewed more positive by society, but I want to look more into effects on self esteem as well for UNMARRIED individuals.
Berebaum, S.A., Blakemore, J., & Beltz, A.M. (2011). A role for biology in gender-related behavior. Sex Roles, 64(11-12), 804-825. doi:10.1007/s11199-011-9990-8.
I really liked the article, it isn't directly related to what I will be studying, but I think it's great background information to have for my study. It discusses how the biology in the field of gender research is underrepresented and how it can be integrated with socialization approaches to questions on gender research. My study right now, I feel, looks more into the socialization aspect of this, but I think it would be interesting to ask some self perception questions about people's opinions. For instance, "Why do you feel you are this way? Do you feel like you were born or have been socialized to be like this?" Obviously one's opinion about themselves won't tell me whether their beliefs are a result of biology or of socialization, BUT it will at least give me some qualitative opinions I can look into. Without doing twin research, I'm not sure how I could really look into the biology of it all, but there may be a way!
Critical Approaches to Gender and Sexuality in Italian Culture and Society
Ross, CharlotteItalian Studies, 65, 2, 164-177(14), 2010
In exploring the development of critical debates on gender and sexuality in contemporary Italian culture, this article focuses on three issues that, it is argued, have shaped this evolution, at times limiting its scope: the interdisciplinary character of these fields; the varying levels of attention devoted to different modalities of gender and sexuality, which have seen more attention devoted to women/femininity than to men/masculinities; evolving theoretical discourses on gender and sexuality and arising tensions, particularly between Anglophone poststructuralist conceptions of gender and Italian sexual difference thought. I suggest that while perceived or actual failures to engage with Anglophone critical discourses provoke frustration, some recent scholarship in Italian offers productive critical innovation, interweaving Anglophone theories with Italian thought. This and other recent work goes some way towards addressing persistent gaps in critical analyses of sexuality and gender in an Italian context.
Gender Culture and Gender Gap in Employment
Campa, Pamela , Casarico, Alessandra , Profeta, PaolaCESifo Economic Studies, 2010, Vol. 57(1), pp.156-182, 2011
This article analyzes to what extent gender culture affects gender gap in employment. Drawing on Italian data, we measure culture by building two indices: one based on individuals’ attitudes, as done in the existing literature; one based on firms’ attitudes. Firms’ beliefs, which express their set of ideas, values and norms, though generally neglected, are as important as individuals’ attitudes to explain female labor market outcomes. Using an instrumental variable analysis, we show that our index of gender culture based on firms’ attitudes is significant in explaining gender gap in employment in Italian provinces. We show that the same holds when culture is measured with reference to individual attitudes. (JEL code: J16)
Zoccali, R., Muscatello, M., Bruno, A., Seranó, D., Campolo, D., Pandolfo, G., & ...MEduri, M (2008). Gender role identity in a sample of Italian male homosexuals. Journal of Homosexuality,55(2), 165-173. doi:10.1080/0091836080226585
This was an interesting article--not directly related to what I was planning on studying, but I was so excited to find something on Italian gender roles! Most of the research I have found is on American gender roles. The main findings from this article addressed the fact that homosexual men tend to view themselves as androgynous individuals--sharing both features of masculine and feminine gender roles.
C Camoletto, R.F., (2011). Sexual beginners: Accounting for first sexual intercourse in Italian young people's heterosexual biographies. Sex Education, 11(3), 315-325.
Again, this article was not exactly what I will be studying, but it is on Italian culture, and I think that sexual intercourse for young adults is obviously related to relationships, marriage and--by extensions--gender roles. I liked how this study uses narratives, more of semi-structured interviews. I thought the difference in interpretations of the first sexual intercourse was very interesting; it said that young men ore often place their first sexual intercourse within a context of emotional and relational detachment, while young women tend to interpret their first experience as romantic. The article did not make this connection, but I think it would be interesting to tie these roles to gender role research--it is one thing to make the statement that men and women interpret things a certain way, but I think by tying it to gender role research, I might be able to find the 'why'?
Giulani, C., Iafrate, R., & Rosnati, R. (1998). Peer-group and romantic relationships in adolescents from intact and separated families. Contemporary Family Therapy: An Interanational Journal, 20(1), 93-105. doi:10.1023/A:10250448002520
The impact of family structure (intact vs. separated) on adolescents' friendship and romantic relationship were assessed, using an Italian representative sample of 300 adolescents. Findings reveal some significant differences related to family structure. Compared to adolescents from intact homes, adolescents from separated families display a higher level of distrust of others, are less likely to foresee marriage as a certain step in their lives, and show a higher degree of fear toward marriage. Contrary to expectations, there is no significant difference either in the extent and the frequency of contacts with the peer network or the existence of a romantic relationship among the two groups of adolescents. Implications are discussed.
Lordo, E. & Sangiuliano, M (2009). 'Gender and employment' in the Italian poliy debates: The construction of 'non employed gendered subjects. Women's Studies International Forum, 32(6), 445-452. doi:101016/j.wsif.2009.09.007
This article focused on two questions
-How gendered are debate
--What categories of subjects do the debates construct?
This article argued that non employment policies are related to gender stereotypes concerning the division of productive and reproductive work, and by mentioning the intersection of gender and class, ethnicity, and age. All of these things combined are disadvantages to women. I think this is an interesting article, a big part of gender roles include looking into roles in the work force and this article suggested that women are at a disadvantage in the workforce, at least in part, due to stereotypes of women that are assumed. The article originates from research carried out within the European QUING project (www.quing.eu). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)
De Caroli, M., & Sagone, E. (2007). Toys, sociocognitive traits and occupations: Italian children's endorsement of gender stereotypes. Psychological Reports, 100(3, Pt2), 1298-1311. doi:10.2466/PR0.100.3.1298-1311
While I'm studying young adults, this study was conducted on a sample of 136 Italian children (8-12)--it rated their bias towards gender stereotypes, measured through gender-typed toys, traits, and occupational choices. Children attributed toys connected with aesthetic aspect and domestic activities to females, while technology, warfare, locomotion and construction toys were attributed to the male. Physical and verbal aggression and dominance to the male toys, while females were characterized by sweetness. As far as occupation goes, the male model included practical-manual activities of 'highly cultural and specialist' relevance, while the female models activities were mainly domestic. I thought this article was so interesting! Gender role stereotypes appear at such a young age, and I wonder if they get stronger or weaker (I assume stronger) as one ages. Gender stereotype theories were mentioned throughout the article, and I LOVED that I am finally finding some research on gender roles/stereotypes that are specific to Italy!
Tager, D., & Good, G.E. (2005). Italian and American masculinities: A comparison of masculine gender role norms. Psychology Of Men & Masculinity 6(4), 264-274. doi:101037/1524-9220.6.4.264
Probably thee best article I've read so far! It is DIRECTLY connected to what I will be researching. The article compared social constructionist perspective of gender roles by comparing American men to Italian men, and their perspective on gender roles and looking into cross cultural differences for masculine role norms. Surprisingly (at least to me) Italian men endoresed less traditional views towards 9 of the 11 masculine norms. Male students in Southern Italy did, however, report more traditional roles and greater conformity than central Italians (in Rome where I'll be! It looks like I may be on the bubble between traditional southern Italy and nontraditional northern Italy). However, their views of masculinity were actually less traditional than men from the United States. The more I think about it, the more I realize that this isn't the hugest shock for me. I expect Italian women's roles to be extremely traditional, but from the reading I've done, it sounds like the men don't feel that they are the ultimate provider/responsible for the family. Obviously there is much more I need to learn, but I felt that this was an extremely useful article. "The masculine norms of emotional control and self-reliance were negatively correlated with positive relations with others."
