A Theoretical Perspective on Egalitarian Gender Role Attitudes and Behaviors

Abstract

The egalitarian gender role attitudes are a prevailing discussion of gender researchers. In that, researchers tend to use social role theory to explain the cognitive processes involving in such a concept. However, in the current article we argue that it lacks detailed explanation on stepwise cognitive processes of people involved in such an egalitarian gender role attitudes and behaviors. Moreover, theory can't be applied to determine whether traditional gender role attitude have been changed by the people or not in a society. This perspective paper proposes that the theory of planned behavior is a good basis to examine whether egalitarian gender stereotypes and behaviors prevalent or not. We took the Sri Lankan examples to analyze the components of theory of planned behavior in the lens of egalitarian gender role beliefs. we present it in two perspectives where in the first perspective we have organized information to reveal that the components of theory of planned behavior; the Attitudes, Subjective Norms, and the Perceived Behavioral Control influence the Intentions for Egalitarian Gender Role Behaviors. In the second perspectives we provide information to support Intentions and Facilitative Conditions for Egalitarian Gender Role Behaviors ultimately Influence to the Egalitarian Gender Role Behaviors. While provide future research directions in each perspective, we provide implications for future researchers that the theory of planned behavior is suits in explaining the egalitarian gender role attitudes and behaviors of people.