Senior Theses
Publication Date
5-28-2020
Document Type
Thesis (Open Access)
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Department
Sociology and Anthropology
Faculty Advisor(s)
Amy J. Orr
Subject Categories
Gender and Sexuality | Race and Ethnicity | Sociology | Sociology of Culture
Abstract
Romantic love has long acted as a significantly influential social institution. This thesis examines how ideology and practices surrounding romantic love and partnership differ across gender, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. In order to carry out this investigation, a survey was administered to 141 participants between the ages of 18 to 84. Of these participants, approximately 62% were female, 36% were male, and 3% identified as Other. The majority of respondents were White, followed by Latino/Hispanic and Asian/Asian American. Overall, findings indicate that, when not accounting for race or income, men tend to demonstrate increased idealism in their romantic attitudes when compared to women. Further differences in romantic attitudes were observed at the intersection of income and gender in which low-income women displayed increased idealism when compared to high-income women and low-income men demonstrated lower degrees of idealism when compared to high-income men.
Recommended Citation
Salas, Jessica, "The Evolution of Love: The Meaning of Romantic Love in Contemporary Society" (2020). Senior Theses. 13.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/soanstud_theses/13
