Date of Award
1987
Type
Thesis
Major
Specialist in Education
Degree Type
Special Degree in Education
Department
Teacher Education
First Advisor
Dr. James Brewbaker
Second Advisor
Dr, Lee Friedman
Third Advisor
Dr. Anita Whitman
Abstract
This descriptive study dealt with the subject of female assertiveness in male-female relationships as portrayed in adolescent novels. The hypotheses were that a more contemporary attitude toward women would be reflected in the past decade's literature for adolescents by featuring women who act more assertively in dating relationships, and that there would be a difference in the behavior of females in the novels published between 1967 - 1976 and those published between 1977 and 1986 with females of the former period assuming a more passive role in male-female relationships. Fifteen representative novels of each period were analyzed, and data were collected through use of a checklist of specified behaviors of women. Data were also analyzed to ascertain whether the sex of the protagonist or the sex of the author had a bearing on the dating behavior of females in the novels.
The results indicated that the novels of the latter decade portrayed female protagonists and other major female characters as behaving more assertively in dating relationships than in the first decade's sample. Females were found to act more assertively in novels with male protagonists; however, no major differences were noted due to author gender.
Recommended Citation
Hagler, Wanda, "Assertiveness as a Characteristic of Females in Male-Female Relationships in Selected Adolescent Novels from 1967-1976 and 1977-1986" (1987). Theses and Dissertations. 593.
https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/593
