• Dads, domestic chores and ambitious daughters
    http://www.digitaljournal.com/science/dads-domestic-chores-and-ambitious-daughters/article/385108

    Dads who do their share of household chores are more likely to have ambitious daughters, according to a new study. This, in turn, influences the career choice that the daughter takes.

    The findings suggests that fathers who perform household chores, such as cleaning dishes and doing laundry, are more likely to raise daughters who aspire to, and be successful in, less-traditional female careers such as becoming a CEO or lawyer.

    The reason relates to gender roles. If young women see their fathers carrying out tasks equally with the mother, then they are less likely to see certain careers as “male jobs” or “female jobs.” Attitude, however, was shown not to be enough. So if a father was supportive of gender equality but remained seated in his chair reading the newspaper while his partner cooked and cleaned, then the daughters had a tendency to gravitate towards what are traditionally referred to as “women’s jobs.” In other words, “walking-the-walk” was a bigger factor than simply “talking-the-talk.”

    There are other factors at play too, according to CTV News, which help drive the ambition of female children. This includes a mother’s views on equality which helps to influence children’s attitudes towards gender roles.