Regional and Gender Differences in Value Attitudes of Secondary School Pupils in Two Croatian Counties: Transition, Modernization and Change in Value Cover Image

Regionalne i rodne razlike u vrijednosnim stavovima srednjoškolaca u dvjema hrvatskim županijama: tranzicija, modernizacija i promjene vrijednosti
Regional and Gender Differences in Value Attitudes of Secondary School Pupils in Two Croatian Counties: Transition, Modernization and Change in Value

Author(s): Saša Puzić, Petar Bezinović
Subject(s): Gender Studies
Published by: Hrvatsko sociološko društvo
Keywords: transition; modernization; youth; values; regional developmental level; gender divisions; pluralisation

Summary/Abstract: The main question raised in the paper is whether the social consequences of the “transition to capitalism” (increased social and economic stratification, the absence of a social consensus on desirable social values, etc.) has had an impact on the modernization-related lag of Croatian society at value level. In an attempt to find an answer to this question, the authors investigated the compatibility of value orientations of secondary school pupils socialised during the transition period in Croatia with value types typical for the Inglehart model of value modernization, including the differences related to gender and the regional developmental level. The investigation of value orientations was carried out on a representative, stratified sample of 3471 pupils from two Croatian counties (Lika-Senj and Primorje-Gorski Kotar). The hierarchy of the tested values and their factorial structure were examined, followed by an investigation of specific regional and gender-related differences using two-way analysis of variance. The results show that pupils socialised in the transition period in Croatia accept a wide range of value orientations, which supports the hypothesis that modernization processes in this period have taken place on several qualitative levels. Testing of the significance of the differences between various sub-groups (region x gender) showed that developmental factors affect the transformation of value-related attitudes of youth, but also that the culturally mediated effect of gender relativises the impact of developmental factors. The authors ascribe this situation to the permanent relevance of gender divisions in the society, which have not decreased in importance even under the circumstances of modern social changes.

  • Issue Year: 41/2011
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 213-238
  • Page Count: 26
  • Language: Croatian