Girls' identity formation in the changing social structure of Sri Lanka.
Adolescent girls (N = 118) from diverse social backgrounds in Sri Lanka described their views of womanhood. Qualities of the ideal woman considered most important were kindness and honesty, liking children, intelligence, and having a good job. Although the traditional role of the Sri Lankan woman is that of homemaker, most girls in the study (55%) drew the ideal woman working outside the home, often as a teacher or a doctor. Nevertheless, adolescent girls emphasized traditional qualities of the woman at both work and home as self-sacrificing and serving others.
de Silva
S
S
Department of Education, Saint Louis University, MO.
Stiles
D A
DA
Gibbons
J L
JL
Gibbon
J L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D002321:Career Choice; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012649:Self Concept; D012922:Social Change; D012931:Social Environment; D013188:Sri Lanka; D014933:Women's Rights / Q000523:psychology