The Relationship between Parenting Styles, Child’s Gender, and Gender-Shift Use in Arabic Child-Directed Speech

Abstract

This study investigates the interrelationship between gender-shift in child-directed speech (CDS), child gender, and parenting styles among Arabic-speaking caregivers. A survey of 180 Palestinian parents assessed their parenting styles and reported use of gender-shift in relation to their child’s gender. The findings reveal no significant correlation between gender-shift and child’s gender. However, a positive association exists between gender-shift and indulgence, a characteristic of permissive parenting, while a negative correlation is seen with autonomy granting, regulation, and warmth/support, central to authoritative parenting. These results highlight the need for detailed analysis of parenting dimensions towards deeper understanding of the role of gender-shift use in Arabic CDS, suggesting that broader parenting style categories might overlook crucial differences. The study emphasizes the importance of culturally and linguistically sensitive, interprofessional approaches in language development research, especially in relatively unexplored areas like CDS, while also acknowledging the complexities of exploring such relatively unexamined areas.