Abstract
Data were collected from 220 male and 158 female students enrolled in four national universities in Taiwan, Republic of China. Major instruments included a Chinese scale measuring the degree of traditionality-modernity and a translated Jacobson Marriage-Role Scale measuring whether one holds a male-dominant attitude role in a marriage in which the husband makes the major decisions or a more equalitarian attitude where decision making is shared by both husband and wife. Both scales and a questionnaire measuring demographic data were administered during regular psychology class sessions in spring, 1984. Results indicated (a) a significant sex difference on both scales, with women holding a more modern value and a more equalitarian attitude toward marriage-role; (b) a factor structure of marriage-role attitude different for Chinese men and women; and (c) a significant relationship between traditionality-modernity and marriage-role attitude, with the more modern individual holding the more equalitarian role. Furthermore, this latter relationship was stronger for women on some factors than for men. This last finding indicates a progressive equalitarian view among well-educated Chinese women contrary to the stereotypic view of the obedient, submissive Chinese woman.