Tackling Traditional

• DOI: 10.1525/sod.2025.2470071
• Publication Date: 2025-03-17T21:49:31Z
• Authors: Keera Allendorf; Susan E. Short; Nancy Luke; Hongwei Xu

Modernization theory posited gender ideology as a unidimensional continuum from “traditional” to egalitarian, with societies becoming more egalitarian they progress. Recent research replaces this view multidimensionality, but other remnants of modernization remain. We tackle such by examining ideologies and their socioeconomic correlates in Tamil Nadu, an Indian state often labeled “traditional.” Using latent class analysis 10 attitudes the South Community Health Study, we identify six ideologies. Two are consistently or essentialist, two mixed, characterized ambivalent agreement. Attitudes toward mobility crucial divider; moderate support for equal distinguishes “consistent egalitarians” “seclusionist “agreeable seclusionists” “highly agreeable.” These agreeable likely reflect acquiescence bias, may also signal polite resistance feminist scripts. The correlated gender, religion, education, have little no association caste, age, class. findings extend multidimensionality context hint at power global local cultural More broadly, demonstrate value—and challenges—of building understanding freer theory.