Individuals' number of children is associated with benevolent sexism

PLoS One. 2021 May 27;16(5):e0252194. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252194. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Is having children related to benevolent sexism? Two theoretical accounts-benevolent sexism as role justification and benevolent sexism as a mating strategy-suggest the possibility of a positive and bidirectional association. Gender disparities in childrearing could prompt inequality-justifying endorsement of benevolent sexism and/or endorsing benevolent sexism could promote traditional gender roles that facilitate having more children. We assessed the bidirectional associations between individuals' number of children and their endorsement of benevolent sexism over a two-year period in a large national panel sample of New Zealanders (N = 6,017). Zero-inflated structural equation modeling indicated that having a greater number of children was associated with stronger endorsement of benevolent sexism two years later, but no evidence emerged for the reverse direction. This study illustrated ways to tentatively test predictions of theoretical accounts on sexism and identified new, though small, evidence for the role justification perspective.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Beneficence*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parity
  • Sexism / psychology*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

The New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study is supported by a grant from the Templeton Religion Trust (TRT0196). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.