GENDER-ROLE ATTITUDES IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED-STATES

It is widely believed that gender role attitudes are more traditional in the southern United States than elsewhere in the nation. We examine this notion using eight gender-related questions from the NORC Genera l Social Survey data Responses to these questions suggest that Souther ners tend to hold more conservative opinions on questions about women in politics and employed women. On questions of whether employed women can be good mothers, however Southern and non-Southern opinions are v ery similar: An examination of how Southerners and non-Southerners ans wered the gender questions over time shows that attitudes in both regi ons have become more egalitarian.