| Abstract:
In the past two decades, the expansion of ethnic identity movements
has increased the number of studies examining the social, cultural, and
political dynamics of ethnicity. A review ofthe studies demonstrates that the
gender aspect of ethnicity has been largely over-looked and tended to
consider gender as a contextual variable. This article is based on the findings
of a survey in four cities of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, to examine the
importance of gender attitude in the development of ethnic identity. The
hypothesis is that the unequal status of the two ethnic groups (Baluch and
Non-Baluch) especially in terms of access to educational opportunities, has
resulted in two different attitudes with respect to gender roles. Traditional
and relatively modem attitudes of gender have differentiated the two ethnic
groups. Additionally, it has impacted the family structure and the social
dynamics within ethnic groups. The analysis of the data attributes many of
the differences between groups to differences in the level of education .Other
variables, such as different religions, also affect the difference in
perspectives and cultural behavior.
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