The Influence of Gender Role Attitude on Marital Conflict Among “Gerji Condominium” Residents

1. The Influence of Gender Role Attitude on Marital Conflict Among “Gerji Condominium” Residents WudneshMamo June 2017

2. Background • Gender role is a complex concept and covers multifaceted areas such as • stereotypes about both genders • equality in schooling • employment • proper roles in the family, division of household and child care labor. • Gender role attitude is the personal perception of individuals how to behave as a women and men (Helgeson, 2012). • Gender roles have changed throughout time (Bazik ,2010)

3. Background • According to Valentova (2012) gender role attitude is changed due to the women’s movement and economic mainly related to the expansion of the service sector that led to the increase in demand for female workers and, consequently, to the higher participation of women in the labor market. • Besides, Bazik (2010) asserted that religious attendance, age and education as factors for gender role attitude shift.

4. Background • Due to the shift gender role attitude from traditional to egalitarian or being resistant of the change, conflicts are raised in the marriage context. • Marriage consisted of a relatively unified set of ideas about appropriate living arrangements, sexual relationships, and the privileged status of married people relative to those who were not married. • As Sweetman(2003) defined marital conflict is the process of conflict arising between the two parties in a marriage which can indicate sexual disagreement, child minding differences, temperamental differences and even religious conflict of interests.

5. Background • There are various factors for marital conflict which are contingent to gender role attitude • Faulkner (2002) argued that division of labor as factor for martial conflict raised by gender role attitude. • Ideas about the role of women and the men in society are closely linked to ideas about the kind of work they should do within marriage, and the value of that work. • as far as the researcher knowledge is concerned marital conflict due to gender role attitude is not well investigated in Ethiopia.

6. Background • marital conflicts are highly shown around condominium sites in Ethiopia. • This study is an effort to assess the marital gender role attitude of ‘Gerji’ condominium residents, the factors that affect gender role attitude and examine the effect of the gender role attitude on marital conflict.

7. Statement of the problem • In Ethiopia, various studies have been done on the gender role attitude regarding education, health, development and other issues. • There are also few studies done on marital satisfaction and children’s issues. • Moreover, gender role attitude and culture has been also investigated (Ahmed 1999). • However, as far as the researcher knowledge is concerned marital conflict due to gender role attitude is not well investigated. • Given the personal experiences of many people living in and around a condominium including the researcher witness of the fact there is increased marital conflict, • there is a need to analyze the role of gender role attitudes to such a context

8. Research Question • What are the marital gender roles attitudes of Gerji condominium residents? • What are the factors that affect gender role attitude of the residents of Gerji condominium? • What is the nature of the relationship between marital gender role attitude and marital conflict?

9. Objective of the study The General objectives • To assess the influence of marital gender role attitude of ‘Gerji’ condominium residents on marital conflict. The Specific objectives • To assess the marital gender role attitude of Gerji Condominium residents • To identify the factors that affect the marital gender role attitude of the residents • To measure the nature and magnitude of conflict among married couples living at Gerji condominium • To identify the relationship between marital gender role attitude and marital conflict

10. The study • Significance of the Study • To provide empirical evidence in the role of gender and its impact on marital conflict for researchers and implementers in our context. • It also gives empirical evidence on factors associated with gender role attitude and their contribution on marital conflict. • It will be helpful for psychologists to design and implement the appropriate coping mechanisms for a healthy relationship.

11. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Research Design • Descriptive type of study (to identify marital gender role attitue of the residents and prevalece of marial conflicts) • A mixed approach • 1. The quantitative method was used to generate quantitative data and examine relationships . • 2. The qualitative aspect was concerned about the perspectives of the married couples

12. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Population of the Study • The total number of the population was 700 at the time of the study. Sampling technique and sample size • From the total population 248 sample taken out of which 230 response was found, 93 % response rate. • For interview purpose five purposively selected couples participated. That is religious leaders, educated and non- educated individuals, elders and young couples were participated.

13. Sampling ….. • Sampling technique • Systematic random sampling • Purposive sampling technique • Sample size determination • Sample size determination for estimation of proportion • Judgmental

14. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Data Collection Instruments • Two structured questionnaires and one semi structured interview guide were used. Procedures of Standardizing Tools • Prior to administer the data collection tools the content validity and reliability of the tools were assessed. • The content validity was examined by five experts in the field and advisor. • The reliability of the tool was tested by collecting and sample and test the alpha value. Therefore, for Jacobson Marital gener role scale 0.713 and Marital Conflict role scale 0.829.

15. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Procedures of data collection • Make a contact and find a list of residents from condominium administration office • Select list of couples in consultation with committee member of the office • Finally, by using systematic random sampling select study participants

16. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Data Analysis • Descriptive statistics like • frequency and percentage analysis • cross tabulation and • binary logistic regression were undertaken. • Qualitative data -narrative approach. • Tables and graphs were used to increase the attraction of the data presentation.

17. Study participants background

18. Study participants background

19. Study participants background Employment Status

20. Key findings Marital Gender Role Attitude • Domestic work • Around 89 percent of study participants do not agree man’s role as breadwinner. • Around 7 percent agree • Around 85 percent of women agree not to insist domestic chores equally. • Even if there is egalitarian view here not appreciate women's stand to egalitarian practice in marriage.

21. Marital gender role attitude…. Income and work related issues • Around 96 percent of study participants do not agree to earn a wife as much as her husband. • Around 85 percent of study participants do not agree men’s decision making in all money matters. • Around 96 percent of participants support men’s decision making on the use of family income. • This shows most have positive attitude for the supremacy of male particularly on the use of income. As the same time, most are positive women's engagement in decisions related to use of income.

22. Marital gender role attitude…. Family decision • The entire and majority participants of the study agree regarding issues related to children, where to live and important issues should decided by the husband. • Therefore, most of the study participants was found to be more of traditional.

23. Marital gender role attitude…. Prioritization of needs and interests • About 70 percent of participants do not agree wife to fit her life to her husband • Around 74 percent of participants agree the husband wishes should come first in most things • Around 83 percent of participants agree that a women should worry less about their right and more about becoming good wives and mothers • This implies are traditional gender role attitude is rampant among the study participants

24. Marital gender role attitude

25. Factors affecting gender role attitude

26. Factors affecting gender role attitude • The odds of those with higher levels of education is 4.9 times that of those with lower level of educational qualification. • Besides, it revealed that the odds of older people to be equalitarian in their gender role attitude is 0.91 less likely than that of who are younger, p<0.001. • Female are .31 times more likely to be equilateral in their gender role attitude than men

27. Marital Conflict

28. Marital Conflict • About 85 percent of study participants do not have frequent argument. • This indicates as conflict is not prevalent among most of the study participants. • I think the above table & narration is used to answer obj # 3 that is To measure the nature and magnitude of conflict among …..yes

29. Relationship between marital gender role attitude and marital conflict

30. Relationship between marital gender role attitude and marital conflict • A higher level of conflict is reported by among the couples with more of traditional gender attitude than the other groups in all dimensions of the measures used

31. Qualitative • The findings from the qualitative study was similar • Most of the discussants expressed as they believe that the society attitude towards gender division of labor has a negative impact on marital conflict. • Traditional attitudes that hold the believe women should be responsible for household chores is not practical as women are also engaged in the productive activities.

32. Qualitative • This is because mostly woman cannot meet the husbands expectationdue to the demands of her work life and the husbands attitude change will take time. • Similarly, another female respondent said the traditional attitudes has effect on creating disproportional burden on women and usually lead to conflicts (cause frustration). • Some also indicated as the conflicts sometimes leads to physical and psychological distress.

33. Qualitative • A female interviewee expressed as there is some change in attitudes related to marital gender roles. • Yet, she believes that the society attitude towards gender role has impact on marital conflict.

34. Conclusion In view of the findings of the study can conclude that • traditional marital gender role attitude is prevalentamong married couples at Gerji Condominium residents. • Age, sex and education significantly influence the gender role attitude of the residents. • These traditional gender roles apply to married life where the husband takes on the role as breadwinner and the wife fulfills the role of homemaker and does not do work outside of the home.

35. Conclusion • Because of this, women face conflicting desires to be successful, but also to have a family. However, men do not face the same choice because they are not expected to be the primary caretaker. • This means couples with traditional marital attitude are more prone to conflicts as the role expectations and inability of realizing that usually leads to conflict. • This is initiated when the woman gets frustrated with the unfairness and unmanageability of the role.

36. Recommendation • Marriage and family therapists’ can empower couples by educating them about societal-based expectations for gender role behavior and gender role influences on marital conflict. • By encouraging couples to confront and challenge their own gender biases, they become more receptive to considering their partner’s gender biased perspective as well, creating a culture of understanding.

37. Recommendation • Build women capacity in education may lead to economic independence and this will open the door to participate in marital decisions and household division of labor. • Egalitarian approach should be taught to everyone starting from childhood • Couples need to bring practical attitude change towards marital gender role attitude.