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A Typology: Older Women and Gender Role Identity

Myung-Ae Kim1, Euna Park2, Sung-Hee Ko3
Korean Journal of Adult Nursing 2013;25(3):289-297.
Published online: June 18, 2013

1College of Nursing, Keimyung University, Daegu

2Department of Nursing, Pukyong National University, Busan

3College of Nursing, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea

Corresponding author: Ko, Sung-Hee College of Nursing, Chonbuk National University, San 2-20, Geumam-dong, Dukjin-gu, Jeonju 561-712, Korea. Tel: +82-10-8721-3123, Fax: +82-63-270-3127, E-mail: jane@jbnu.ac.kr
• Received: November 5, 2012   • Accepted: June 22, 2013

© 2013 Korean Society of Adult Nursing

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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  • Purpose
    The purpose of this study was to categorize and to understand the structure of subjectivity in the gender role identity of older female adults. The perception of gender role identity is subjective and varies according to the uniqueness of individual experiences and the value of social culture.
  • Methods
    Q-methodology, a technique for extracting subjective opinions was used. In 2010, forty participants completed the Q-sort activity, rating each statement relative to the others. The Q sample has two categories, representing masculinity and femininity, and each category has 20 statements, resulting in 40 adjectives.
  • Results
    Using the Q factor analysis, three classifications were identified: ‘caring-affectionate type,’, ‘assertive-confident type,’ and ‘sensitive-affectionate type.’ Despite the differences among the three types in this research, elderly females are likely to have the understanding and patience to comfort others and care for the children.
  • Conclusion
    The results of this study revealed new dimensional types of gender role identity and raise the issue of why we need to develop methods for the new dimensional types. Based on the results, further research is needed to compare the findings with those of older males or with women of different age groups.
  • Key Words: Older; Female; Gender; Role; Identity
Table 1.
Distribution of Q Sample Card
Variables Most unlike       Neutral       Most like
Score -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
No. of card 2 3 4 4 6 4 4 3 2
Table 2.
Q Sample 7and Z-score according to Type
Q statement Z-score
Type 1 (n=15) Type 2 (n=12) Type 1 (n=13)
1. Acts as a leader -1.2 0.8 -0.5
2. Aggressive -2 -0.2 -1.5
3. Ambitious -1.1 -1.4 -1.3
4. Assertive -1.2 1.6 0.2
5. Brave -0.6 0.6 -0.4
6. Broad-minded -0.1 1.1 -1
7. Competitive -1.2 -0.2 -0.4
8. Defends own beliefs 0.4 1 0.1
9. Dominant -1.7 -1.2 -2.2
10. Emotion conceal -0.5 -0.7 -1
11. Faithful 1.3 1.8 0.1
12. Forceful -0.5 0.3 -0.6
13. Independent 0.1 0.2 -1
14. Initiative -0.4 1 -0.5
15. Makes decisions easily -0.5 -0.3 0.3
16. Selfish -1.7 -2.8 -2.3
17. Strong character -0.3 0.4 -0.2
18. Taciturn 0.5 -1.4 -1.6
19. Take risks -0.8 -0.3 -1.2
20. Dealing with serious matters well 0.1 0.4 -0.4
21. Affectionate 0.5 0.2 1.7
22. Take care of children 1.2 0.6 1.3
23. Charming -0.9 -0.9 1.1
24. Delicate 0.8 -0.4 0.5
25. Does not use harsh language 0.9 -0.2 0.9
26. Soothe others well 1.3 1.8 1.1
27. Enjoying romantic things -0.3 -0.3 1
28. Gentle 1.4 -0.8 0.2
29. Patient 1.4 0.2 1
30. Invest in appearance 0.4 -0.1 0.9
31. Jealous -1.6 0.1 0.2
32. Loving beautiful things 0.7 0.5 1.8
33. Sensitive to the needs of others 0.8 1.2 0.3
34. Shy 0.5 -1.6 -0.1
35. Sweet 0.7 -0.6 0.9
36. Sympathetic 1.3 0.8 1.2
37. Talkative -1.1 -1 -0.2
38. Tender 0.6 -0.1 0.1
39. Understanding 1.6 1.3 1.1
40. Yielding 0.9 -0.9 0.3
Table 3.
Descending array of Z-score (Greater than±1) and Item Description for each Type
Type Q statement Z score
Type 1 (n=15) 39. Understanding 1.58
29. Patient 1.41
28. Gentle 1.40
36. Sympathetic 1.32
26. Soothe others well 1.29
11. Faithful 1.26
22. Take care of children 1.22
37. Talkative -1.07
3. Ambitious -1.09
7. Competitive -1.17
1. Acts as a leader -1.20
4. Assertive -1.24
31. Jealous -1.63
9. Dominant -1.65
16. Selfish -1.70
2. Aggressive -1.98
Type 2 (n=12) 11. Faithful 1.78
26. Soothe others well 1.76
4. Assertive 1.63
39. Understanding 1.30
33. Sensitive to the needs of others 1.22
6. Broad- minded 1.14
8. Defends own beliefs 1.04
14. Initiative 1.03
9. Dominant -1.15
18. Taciturn -1.36
3. Ambitious -1.41
37. Talkative -1.56
34. Shy -1.63
16. Selfish -2.76
Type 3 (n=13) 32. Loving beautiful things 1.77
21. Affectionate 1.72
22. Take care of children 1.26
36. Sympathetic 1.23
26. Soothe others well 1.15
39. Understanding 1.13
23. Charming 1.10
6. Broad- minded -1.02
19. Take risks -1.15
3. Ambitious -1.29
2. Aggressive -1.51
18. Taciturn -1.61
9. Dominant -2.16
16. Selfish -2.26
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    Citations

    Citations to this article as recorded by  
    • Perceptions on Gender Role Identity in Male and Female Adolescents
      Sung-Hee KO, Euna PARK
      JOURNAL OF FISHRIES AND MARINE SCIENCES EDUCATION.2018; 30(1): 116.     CrossRef
    • Practical Issues of Conducting a Q Methodology Study
      Teresa Elizabeth Stone, Jane Maguire, Sook Jung Kang, Chiyoung Cha
      Advances in Nursing Science.2017; 40(3): 291.     CrossRef
    • Relationship between Parenting Styles and Gender Role Identity in College Students
      Yi-Ching Lin, Robert E. Billingham
      Psychological Reports.2014; 114(1): 250.     CrossRef

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    A Typology: Older Women and Gender Role Identity
    Korean J Adult Nurs. 2013;25(3):289-297.   Published online June 30, 2013
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2013.25.3.289
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    A Typology: Older Women and Gender Role Identity
    Korean J Adult Nurs. 2013;25(3):289-297.   Published online June 30, 2013
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2013.25.3.289
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    A Typology: Older Women and Gender Role Identity
    A Typology: Older Women and Gender Role Identity

    Distribution of Q Sample Card

    Variables Most unlike       Neutral       Most like
    Score -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
    No. of card 2 3 4 4 6 4 4 3 2

    Q Sample 7and Z-score according to Type

    Q statement Z-score
    Type 1 (n=15) Type 2 (n=12) Type 1 (n=13)
    1. Acts as a leader -1.2 0.8 -0.5
    2. Aggressive -2 -0.2 -1.5
    3. Ambitious -1.1 -1.4 -1.3
    4. Assertive -1.2 1.6 0.2
    5. Brave -0.6 0.6 -0.4
    6. Broad-minded -0.1 1.1 -1
    7. Competitive -1.2 -0.2 -0.4
    8. Defends own beliefs 0.4 1 0.1
    9. Dominant -1.7 -1.2 -2.2
    10. Emotion conceal -0.5 -0.7 -1
    11. Faithful 1.3 1.8 0.1
    12. Forceful -0.5 0.3 -0.6
    13. Independent 0.1 0.2 -1
    14. Initiative -0.4 1 -0.5
    15. Makes decisions easily -0.5 -0.3 0.3
    16. Selfish -1.7 -2.8 -2.3
    17. Strong character -0.3 0.4 -0.2
    18. Taciturn 0.5 -1.4 -1.6
    19. Take risks -0.8 -0.3 -1.2
    20. Dealing with serious matters well 0.1 0.4 -0.4
    21. Affectionate 0.5 0.2 1.7
    22. Take care of children 1.2 0.6 1.3
    23. Charming -0.9 -0.9 1.1
    24. Delicate 0.8 -0.4 0.5
    25. Does not use harsh language 0.9 -0.2 0.9
    26. Soothe others well 1.3 1.8 1.1
    27. Enjoying romantic things -0.3 -0.3 1
    28. Gentle 1.4 -0.8 0.2
    29. Patient 1.4 0.2 1
    30. Invest in appearance 0.4 -0.1 0.9
    31. Jealous -1.6 0.1 0.2
    32. Loving beautiful things 0.7 0.5 1.8
    33. Sensitive to the needs of others 0.8 1.2 0.3
    34. Shy 0.5 -1.6 -0.1
    35. Sweet 0.7 -0.6 0.9
    36. Sympathetic 1.3 0.8 1.2
    37. Talkative -1.1 -1 -0.2
    38. Tender 0.6 -0.1 0.1
    39. Understanding 1.6 1.3 1.1
    40. Yielding 0.9 -0.9 0.3

    Descending array of Z-score (Greater than±1) and Item Description for each Type

    Type Q statement Z score
    Type 1 (n=15) 39. Understanding 1.58
    29. Patient 1.41
    28. Gentle 1.40
    36. Sympathetic 1.32
    26. Soothe others well 1.29
    11. Faithful 1.26
    22. Take care of children 1.22
    37. Talkative -1.07
    3. Ambitious -1.09
    7. Competitive -1.17
    1. Acts as a leader -1.20
    4. Assertive -1.24
    31. Jealous -1.63
    9. Dominant -1.65
    16. Selfish -1.70
    2. Aggressive -1.98
    Type 2 (n=12) 11. Faithful 1.78
    26. Soothe others well 1.76
    4. Assertive 1.63
    39. Understanding 1.30
    33. Sensitive to the needs of others 1.22
    6. Broad- minded 1.14
    8. Defends own beliefs 1.04
    14. Initiative 1.03
    9. Dominant -1.15
    18. Taciturn -1.36
    3. Ambitious -1.41
    37. Talkative -1.56
    34. Shy -1.63
    16. Selfish -2.76
    Type 3 (n=13) 32. Loving beautiful things 1.77
    21. Affectionate 1.72
    22. Take care of children 1.26
    36. Sympathetic 1.23
    26. Soothe others well 1.15
    39. Understanding 1.13
    23. Charming 1.10
    6. Broad- minded -1.02
    19. Take risks -1.15
    3. Ambitious -1.29
    2. Aggressive -1.51
    18. Taciturn -1.61
    9. Dominant -2.16
    16. Selfish -2.26
    Table 1. Distribution of Q Sample Card

    Table 2. Q Sample 7and Z-score according to Type

    Table 3. Descending array of Z-score (Greater than±1) and Item Description for each Type

    Table 1.

    Table 2.

    Table 3.

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