This document discusses how gender affects parenting and child development. It notes that with more women working, children are spending more time with other caregivers, potentially impacting gender development. The family is the starting point for children to develop gender stereotypes, which can influence later career goals. Parents unconsciously pass on their own views of gender through their interactions with children based on gender. The author conducted a small survey finding mothers spend more time on schoolwork and childcare while fathers were more satisfied with the parent-child relationship, demonstrating how gender influences parenting roles and child development.

1. How Gender affects the way we raise our childrenStaci SchmittSoc 235 Gender Roles and Identity

2. Why are Gender studies so important?It is important to examine the correlation between our upbringing/childhood and how it affects our actions as adults. Specifically how gender identification affects early childhood upbringing thusly affecting us as adults.

3. Background (part 1 of 3)More women are entering the workforce than ever, forcing them to leave their children with other caregivers.Families like societies are constantly changing. With these changes comes a multitude of different definitions of what a family looks like, what is constitutes constancy.It is important that both mother and father are present to help mold their offspring into adults with healthy gender perceptions of themselves.

4. Background (part 2 of 3)The family unit is possibly and probably the starting point in which children begin to developing gender stereo types. These stereotypes may play a later role in their career goals.“Parents have a powerful role in their children’sdevelopment through the opportunities we provide, the nature of our families relationships, and our behaviors beliefs.” (National Association for Gifted Children, 2008)

5. Background (part 3 of 3)Children have rapidly growing brains that are constantly taking in information from their parents. How the parents perceive themselves is often passed on to their children as they mimic their parents actions, traits, and morals.

6. HypothesisParents interaction in their child’s development is often based on the child’s gender identity. It is these interactions that the child uses to base or gauge his own actions and behaviors from. These gender associations stay with them as their social consciousness continues through adult hood.

7. ParticipantsTen parents from ten different households participated in a survey. One parent from each family, was chosen at random, and was given a questionnaire asking them 4 simple questions. The participants were under the age of 30. Five were married and five were not.There was little difference between masculine and feminine traits that each parents possessed. Parents who rated as androgynous or undefined on the BSRI didn’t seem to effect the outcome.

8. Participants The results of my survey found that women spend the most time with their children overall. Only one of my surveys found that the father spent more time with the child then the mother. Men give most of the credit to the mother for doing the most school work, hygiene and personal enrichment. Nine out of ten surveyed said the mother is the most responsible. Thirdly, the men reported being the most satisfied with the relationship with their children.

9. ConclusionIf I had the opportunity to do my research over again I would ask different questions that aim to produce more thoughtful results. It would have been interesting to see if the ratios varied more if there were a larger number of participants. My hypothesis was proven by providing evidence that gender association continues into adulthood. My research was amateur at best but gave me some valuable insight into how parents perceive themselves in the their daily roles within a nuclear family.

10. Changing Gender Roles at Home

11. ReferencesErkal, S., Copur, Z., Dogan, N., & Safak, S. 2007. “EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS' GENDER ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS THEIR CHILDREN (A TURKISH EXAMPLE).” Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal, 35(9), 1221-1233. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete database.Kimmel, Michael 2010. The Gendered Society, fourth edition. New York, New York. Oxford.Rudasill, K. M., & Callahan, C. M. 2008. “Parenting and Gender Stereotypes.” Retrieved August 10, 2010 . (http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Parenting_Gender) "Youtube". Intelecom. 08/11/10 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CFldTTDNm0>.