Effect of Gender on the Value Perception of the Young: A Case Analysis.
This article evaluates the young's perception of the values with consideration of the gender factor. The study covered a total of 240 young, consisting of 100 girls and 140 boys continuing high school education in Ankara. The values of young were assessed with scales such as "terminal values", "instrumental values" and "values making life meaningful". It has been determined in this study to the young give importance to the values such as a sense of accomplishment, happiness, independent, honest, family and education. The values such as an exciting life, pleasure, wealth, money, leaving a production behind were not considered important by young. Moreover, the results of the person correlation analysis indicate that there is a positive and meaningful relation between terminal values, instrumental values and the values making life meaningful. Comprehension of the young's perception of the values by professionals will contribute to the development applicable long-term training programmes for better life management and higher life quality of the young. ********** The quick industrialization period and reorganizing of economic conditions began after the world wars in twenty century. Quantity and usage form of economic resources and production--consumption models in community is changed by industrialization and socio-economic development. This social transformation have give shape to individuals' form of life and have differentiated their perception related to value or value systems (Moum, 1981). The word value indicates something of worth, held in esteem or high regard. One's own values are referring to ideals or ultimate standards they hold important in life. Values are often abstract in nature, but exert power in motivating one's behaviour. Values are influenced by the ideals conjured in persons' minds and tempered through experiences provided by environment. Values give direction to life, prompt action, and determine the use of time and energy (Hoeflin, Pence, Miller and Weber, 1984). The value is defined by Rokeach (1973) as an enduring belief that a specific mode of conduct or end- state of existence is personally or socially preferable to an opposite or converse mode of conduct or end-state of existence. The concept of values can be defined as one's general beliefs about desirable and undesirable behaviour and goals or endstates. Values are assumed to be at the core of self-concept and to influence thought and action in many ways. They are assumed to transcend more specific attitudes take. They provide standards or criteria to evaluate actions and outcomes, to justify opinions and conduct, to plan and guide behaviour, to decide between alternatives, to compare one's self with others, to engage in social interaction, and to present one's self to others. Values influence the way events and situations are construed and they are not only cognitions but are linked to emotions. They have some stability, but the importance of particular values may change with life experiences and with the emergence of new roles and responsibilities, specially in youth period (Rokeach, 1973; Cileli and Tezer, 1998). According to Rokeach (1973), there is a relationship between values and global attitudes called personality dispositions. Personality dispositions are an expression or manifestation of terminal and instrumental values. In this point; comprehension of the important values for young contribute to solve of social problems and, higher life quality and well-being of young in terms of social services. Values is a subjective concepts that clearing the reasons for making a certain selection from among various alternatives by individuals in their lives. Values giving meaning to life are also explained as powerful individual feelings in mutual interaction that orientate the behaviors. This intangible concept can only be defined with behaviors and expressed in words. (Rokeach, 1973). Values permeate all aspects of management, providing the basis for decisions. …