Black Women's Sex Roles: The Social Context for a New Ideology

Abstract

This paper proposes a paradigm for understanding black women's sex role ideology. Using interview data the study explores the sex role integration and synthesis of 54 single and two parent families. Variables such as labor force participation patterns, early and present sex role attitudes, role models, and strategies for coordinating family work and paid employment were considered. Results show an integration of traditional and non‐traditional roles in the sex role ideology of black women. The findings are discussed in light of role theory and the concept of role strain.