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.