Question

With respect to caregiving during middle childhood, ________?

1) fathers engage in as much caregiving as mothers
2) fathers spend more time than mothers with school-age children
3) both parents spend more time with girls than with boys
4) both parents tend to devote more time to children of their own sex

Answer 1

Research shows that fathers may enforce traditional gender norms more strongly, particularly with their sons, and quality of caregiving varies by parent. Parental expectations for children often follow gender lines, and the specific involvement of each parent can significantly impact a child's development and adjustment, especially in post-divorce scenarios.

Step-by-step explanation:

With respect to caregiving during middle childhood, there has not been extensive research on diverse family structures and guardian/parent sex and gender related to caregiving time. However, what can be found in the literature is that parental roles and expectations often follow traditional gender norms.

Studies such as those by Kimmel (2000) and Adams (2008) show that fathers may have firmer expectations for gender conformity, especially towards their sons, often engaging more when sons participate in gender-appropriate activities like sports.

Moreover, when it comes to parental involvement, fathers often have different expectations and styles of interaction compared to mothers, suggesting that each parent may not devote the same amount of time to caregiving as the other.

In the context of after-divorce arrangements, boys who live with their fathers and girls who live with their mothers tend to experience benefits such as decreased aggression in boys and increased responsibility in girls, indicating that the involvement of each parent plays a significant role in both sons' and daughters' well-being.