The role of parental attitudes and behaviour in the development of adolescents’ gender housework stereotypes

Abstract

The enduring imbalance in the distribution of housework between men and women persists as a factor perpetuating gender inequality. Attitudes acquired during the ‘formative years’ often persist into adulthood; thus, it is crucial to identify the ways in which individuals develop gender norms during adolescence. While studies have provided convincing evidence that parents influence their children’s support for gender equality, both through passing on their attitudes directly and by setting an example through behaviours, we still know very little about how these influences affect the development of gender stereotypes about housework among adolescents. We build on social learning theory and existing literature to test if parents’ gender attitudes and distribution of housework influence whether their children stereotypically associate certain chores with men or women. In addition, we propose a further parental influence on their children’s gender stereotypes: the nature of parental decision-making arrangements. Using four waves of the Czech Household Panel Survey, we find evidence that all three factors affect adolescents’ housework gender stereotypes. Notably, we contribute to the literature by demonstrating the importance of consensual decision-making arrangements in promoting lower gender stereotypes in adolescence. Furthermore, we find that the effect of housework distribution is moderated by adolescents’ gender.