Identité féminine dans un monde en changement: étude des processus d'identité sociale.

Abstract
According to traditional norms, women are to identify with their roles as mother and wife. Innovative norms provide a role for women that is centered around professional achievement. How do women faced with such opposed social standards perceive their own identity and the social status of their role? Multidimensional scaling (MDS) was used in 3 studies to investigate cognitive and evaluative dimensions upon which women build their identity. Mothers, either at home or at work, and university students, be they married or single, clearly differentiated between traditional women and those striving for fulfillment through the pursuit of career goals. This intergroup categorization, associated with an identification with 1 or the other category, was accompanied by social comparisons between women belonging to each group. Although identity among the student sample of the 3rd study was more innovative than conflicting, the data revealed the possibility of intergroup conflicts. Results are discussed with reference to Tajfel''s social identity theory.

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