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IZOLDA TAKÁCS: THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY
One possible combination of gender identity is thus (1) the so-called “pro¬
gressive identifiers” group, which labels women who do not identify with the
cluster of women at all, and refuse the traditional definition of women. They
claim furthermore that these attributes are artificial and serve to maintain the
subordination of women, which is why they intend to redefine them.”*” Those
women, however, who belong to the (2) “traditional identifiers” group tend to
internalize the traditional gender identities and prefer to stay at home and take
care of the family. They define themselves within the scope of traditional
male-female relationships, and they therefore accept the contents associated
with traditional women. Their attitude and behaviour confirms traditional
roles in all areas. Becker and Wagner have pointed out that, according to
Condor, women falling into this category do not think (and experience) that
their role has a lower status than that of men, neither question their place in
society. They in fact think women are positively distinguished from men. This
attitude ultimately contributes to the continuation of the status quo. Their
quantitative research also established that this group mainly consists of house¬
wives and anti-feminists.”°* The women they labelled (3) “progressive non-iden¬
tifiers” do not identify with the female role at all. Though the women in this
category accept and acknowledge the traits and characteristics considered to
be manly, as well as negative stereotypes referring to women, they consider
themselves to be exceptions. They consider men to be their reference group.
If these women enter a male collective of higher prestige therefore, they iden¬
tify less with the cluster of women and assimilate, even going as far as striving
to be rid of female traits and characteristics. The results of Condor as well as
Becker and Wagner show that, because academic success and results are also
associated with male traits, women with career and university students are
the primary demographic of this group.” The fourth group is that of (4) “tra¬
ditional non-identifiers”. The subjects associated with this group claim wom¬
en to be dependent, thereby accepting traditional gender roles as well. The
authors state that women with this attitude also support the gender status quo,
while neither being particularly womanly nor manly; in fact, they identify with
their husbands rather than other members of their gender group.” This group
consists mainly of housewives for whom femininity, and gender in general,
plays little to no role.
Van Breen and associates believe on the other hand that an approach es¬
tablishing multiple identities (the multiple identities approach, referred to
henceforth as MIA) is required, which can portray further differences (or
overlaps) between gender-specific attitudes, this not being possible with GIM.
257 Ibidem.
258 Becker-Wagner: Doing Gender Differently, 490.
Becker-Wagner: Doing Gender Differently.
260 Ibidem.
259
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