| The purpose of this research was to investigate family violence and its relationship to stereotypical gender roles and perceptions in the rural Appalachian region of southeastern Kentucky. This region is perceived to evidence high levels of unreported domestic violence due to variables such as traditional gender roles, community norms, a patriarchal justice system, lack of access to telephones and to privacy when reporting incidents, long distances between homes, and the perception that family business should be “private.” This study also investigated gender perceptions, androgyny, formal education, and socioeconomic status. The sample was drawn from students enrolled in five colleges within the Appalachian region of Kentucky. The data was collected through utilization of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale, the Gender Equity Perception Scale, and the Bem Sex Role Inventory. Results were analyzed through standard multiple-regression techniques. Descriptive analysis was employed to suggest relationships between domestic violence, inequitable gender perceptions, and the demographic variables cited above. |
