What is it about?
The research shows that parents who are more worried that their child might grow up to be gay or lesbian tend to parent in more gendered ways, meaning they are more likely to encourage gender-stereotypical behaviors and preferences in boys and girls - for example, by steering children toward toys, clothing, and activities that align with traditional gender norms.
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Why is it important?
Better understanding what drives parents’ fears and gendered behaviors can help design effective interventions that allow children to grow up free from restrictive gender stereotypes, explore their full potential, and enable parents to offer them all opportunities - contributing to a more equitable and inclusive society.
Perspectives
This work uncovers a psychological dynamic that helps explain pervasive gendered practices in children’s environments. Parents’ fear that their child might grow up to be gay or lesbian is often unspoken, yet it emerges as a meaningful predictor of gendered parenting - highlighting the importance of understanding hidden motivations as a first step toward change.
Noya Kislev
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Parents’ aversion to the possibility of having a gay or lesbian child predicts gendered parenting, PLOS One, December 2025, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0338209.
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