Gender-role and housing preferences: Fid-Bau Portal

Gender-role and housing preferences

Devlin, Ann Sloan

Abstract This study was conducted to determine whether relationships exist between gender-role and housing preferences. One hundred and thirteen undergraduate students, 76 women and 35 men (2 subjects did not record their sex) completed the Bem Sex Role Inventory (), a background questionnaire, and rated two sets of housing stimuli for residential preference. One set of eight houses was developed by Kinzy (), the other set of six houses was used previously by . Kinzy's eight houses comprised Modern, Contemporary, Mediterranean, Tudor, Farm, Colonial, Early American and Ranch styles, whereas Nasar's were a Contemporary, Mediterranean, Tudor, Farm, Colonial, and Saltbox. The results of this study reveal some support for the relationship between gender-role and housing preference, as well as some indication of the kinds of housing styles people prefer (and dislike). Related to house style preferences, the results also indicate that architectural renderings of a particular house style can influence these preference judgments. Additional findings point to the fact that the kind of locale (suburban/rural or urban) in which one's family resides can influence housing preference. Some indication of regional preference differences also emerged.