Development of Androgyny: Parental Influences

Abstract

While many researchers have documented the existence of pressures toward traditional sex-typing in the family, schools, and media, little consideration has been given to the effectiveness of these sources in fostering more flexible orientations to sex-typing. The present paper focuses on the extent to which parents are able to influence their children toward the development of nonstereotyped behaviors, conceptualized here in terms of androgyny. This issue is examined through an exploration of several theories of sex-role development and empirical” research on sex-role development. Additional consideration of theories and research on life-span development and resistance among children in the current culture to nonstereotyped behavior lead to a distinction between short-term and long-term effects of nonsexist parental behavior. Although androgynous parents may not produce androgynous children, their children often do grow up to be androgynous adults.