Analysing gendered perceptions on domestic life and quality of life in North-West Region, Romania. A spatial perspective

Research argues that perceptions on domesticity and the quality of life are gendered. This study aims to discover if men and women in North-West Region in Romania have traditional attitudes towards gender roles, or more egalitarian ones. With a mixed-methodological approach, statistical and spatial analysis are conducted in order to determine how individual gender-role perceptions are shaped by the level of local development. Using Multivariate Clustering and Geographically Weighted Regressions, the level of gender prejudice is highlighted through the spatial pattern of 1007 responses collected through a cross-sectional CATI survey. Results indicate that both men and women have traditional gender-role attitudes on some aspects; also, women are more inclined towards gender egalitarian standpoints. Furthermore, results of territorial diagnosis and spatial analysis highlight both similarities and differences between urban and rural settings regarding the level of gender bias, whereas the local level of development is proven to influence more the perceptions of women, while men are more entrenched in traditional gender norms. However, perceptions on female economic empowerment, public safety and respect suggest a more transitional gender-role attitude for both sexes. This innovative, interdisciplinary approach aims to demonstrate the importance of including spatialized data in the analysis of gender perceptions.