Fathers’ and Mothers’ Sexism Predict Less Responsive Parenting Behavior During Family Interactions

Abstract

Men’s hostile sexism predicts harmful behavior toward women. Yet, most investigations have relied on self-report assessments, and overlooked a critical, consequential behavioral outcome: responsive parenting. The current studies provide the first behavioral evidence of the associations between hostile sexism and parenting. Fathers higher in hostile sexism reported lower authoritative (warm, involved) and higher authoritarian (directive, controlling) parenting attitudes (Study 1). Observing mixed-gender couples and their 5-year-old child engaging in family interactions ( k = 627), fathers and (unexpectedly) mothers higher in hostile sexism exhibited less responsive parenting irrespective of child gender (Studies 1 and 2). Fathers’ higher hostile sexism also was associated with less responsive behavior toward mothers during family interactions (Studies 1 and 2), but the associations with parenting were independent of couple-level behavior. These studies emphasize the importance of behavioral assessments and advance understanding of the harm both men’s and women’s hostile sexism may have for parents and children.