A new study from the University of Auckland has unveiled a stark correlation between toxic masculinity and poor parenting, shedding light on the far-reaching consequences of rigid gender roles within families.
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“For decades, sexism has been known to predict negative behaviours toward women, from discrimination to violence,” said the research’s lead author Nickola Overall from the University of Auckland, as per IOL.
The harmful effects of sexism have been widely acknowledged, encompassing everything from discrimination to violence against women.
However, this new research, published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science on Tuesday, takes a fresh perspective, delving into the implications of what’s commonly known as ‘toxic masculinity’ on parenting.
The study utilised video recordings of family groups in a controlled laboratory setting to assess parental responsiveness. Researchers focused on various aspects of responsiveness, including warmth, involvement, engagement, and sensitivity toward children.
The results were telling: both fathers and mothers who exhibited less responsiveness were found to demonstrate higher levels of what’s referred to as ‘hostile sexism’ – the academic term for a perspective that favours male authority and antagonises women who challenge the social power of men.
While it was expected that fathers subscribing to toxic masculinity might engage in poorer parenting, the study yielded a surprising discovery – mothers who endorsed toxic masculinity were also found to be less responsive parents. The implications of this for family dynamics are significant.
Lead author Nickola Overall suggests possible reasons for this phenomenon:
“It could be that these mothers follow the traditional fatherly lead in family interactions, resulting in less engaged parenting,” she stated, as per IOL.
Another possibility is that mothers may consciously or unconsciously restrict the father’s involvement in parenting, upholding traditional caregiver roles, which, in turn, detracts from their responsiveness to their children.
The importance of responsive parenting in child development cannot be overstated. Its absence can lead to a range of issues, including behavioural problems, emotional difficulties, and lower academic achievement.
The study’s implications extend to a broader understanding of the consequences of toxic masculinity for children across generations. The research team, which includes members from the Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Essex, emphasises the urgency of exploring why some women continue to endorse such beliefs despite the harm they pose to women and children.
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Feature Image: Pexels
