Research Proposal

Raising Children Gender-Neutral: The Parenting Style of the Future

by Maddie Roszak

Introduction

 For my research project, I would like to delve into the negative impact of traditional gender roles. Specifically, the negative impact on children. Traditional gender roles, such as a breadwinning father and a house-making mother, can impact a child’s gender identity, sexuality, and sense of self. Traditional gender roles are perpetuated by religion, stereotypes, and misogyny (internalized or otherwise). Gender-neutral parenting is one way to raise children without the negative side effects of traditional gender roles. Gender-neutral parenting means avoiding raising a child both androgynously and with the girls = pink and boys = blue mentality, to put it simply.

Some people believe that raising children gender neutrally can be harmful to the child and is simply forcefully pressing the parents’ beliefs on a young, impressionable future voter. My research will attempt to prove that children should be raised without traditional gender roles and as gender-neutral as possible to allow them to develop their own identity and ideas about (their) gender and sexuality through a few questions. Is there a bad side to gender-neutral parenting? Why does gender-neutral parenting work? How can gender-neutral parenting improve a person’s comfort with their gender identity, sexuality, and sense of self? My purpose is to convey that raising children with traditional gender roles and strict gender binary (the classification of two strict sexes) can be harmful; I want to instruct people on the benefits of raising children gender-neutrally.

Review of Literature

Some sources reviewed so far include “The Impact of Mothers’ Gender-Role Stereotypic Beliefs on Mothers’ and Children’s Ability Perceptions” by Janis Jacobs and Jacquelynne Eccles from the 1992 Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Though the source is fairly old, the facts do not seem to have changed with time. The authors present research that shows that traditional gender roles impact a child’s successfulness in school, sports, and their social lives. “Gender Independent Kids: a Paradigm Shift in Approaches to Gender Non-Conforming Children” by Jake Pyne in the 2014 Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality further proves that a gender-neutral approach to education is vital to, at the very least, make non-binary or “gender independent” children feel more comfortable.

Dr. Campbell Leaper’s article “Parents’ Socialization of Gender in Children” from the 2013 Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Education displays the negative impacts of traditional gender roles to a child’s sense of self. “The Recalled Childhood Gender Identity/Gender Role Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties” by Kenneth Zucker, Janet Mitchell, Susan Bradley, Jan Tkachuk, James Cantor, and Sara Allin in the 2006 issue of Sex Roles has a lot of hard data to support the impacts of traditional gender roles. The authors show the negative impressions on a persons’ gender identity or feelings about their own sexuality. 

May Ling Halim, Diane Ruble and David Amodio also write about gender-specific stigmas in “From Pink Frilly Dresses to ‘One of the Boys’: A Social-Cognitive Analysis of Gender Identity Development and Gender Bias” from the 2011 Social and Personality Psychology Compass. The authors explain that negative stereotypes surrounding the female gender may be the cause of many young girls rejecting the traditional “girly” image. This stigma would be hard to overcome, no matter the parenting type. “Anticipation of the Sexual and Gender Development of Children Adopted by Same-Sex Couples” by Jorge Gato and Anne Marie Fontaine in the 2013 International Journal of Psychology represents the positive impact non-heterosexual couples can have on children. Although there is quite a stigma around non-heterosexual adoptions, this study shows that most non-heterosexual couples generally do not support traditional gender roles and therefore end up with children more comfortable with their identity.

Megan Gibson’s article in an issue of Time Magazine in 2012 “Parents Who Hid Child's Gender for Five Years Now Face Backlash” shows the negative beliefs surround gender-neutral parenting. Many people had strong adverse opinions even though the child in question was happy and healthy and, most importantly, not their own. The Christian Post published an especially negative article “Gender Liberation: The Harmful Effects of Raising Children 'Gender Neutral’” supposedly presenting real facts that outline why gender-neutral parenting is bad. Though not views I agree with, this article does show the other side to the gender-neutral debate. Everyday Feminism disputes most of The Christian Post’s points in their article “5 Myths About Gender Neutral Parenting”. Everyday Feminism totally debunks all of the misconceptions around gender-neutral parenting. Parents Magazine further explains why gender-neutral parenting is a positive thing in their 2013 article, “Should You Raise a Gender-Neutral Baby?” Though it does not tell a future parent explicitly how to raise their child, this article does explain many of the pros of gender-neutral parenting.

Plan to Collect Information

I already have many sources collected, scholarly and from mainstream media. A lot of the articles I have looked at come from the Olympic College Haselwood database. Other articles I found by researching some terms related to my research. In addition to the sources already recovered, I would like to find more examples of children raised gender-neutrally. This will probably be found in interviews with parents or something similar in the media, rather than peer-reviewed journals. I feel as though I do not need a lot more sources because I already have found so much. I am afraid if I find too many sources I will have too much to write about and become overwhelmed.

Project Timeline

Until next week Tuesday, the 26th, I will continue collecting and organizing my research. I will also annotate 20 of my sources by the same time. I will decided whether I want to interview parents about how they raised their children and, if I want to, complete the interviews. On November 13th I will start my outline, rationale, abstract, and outline for my paper and finish by November 20th. I will also complete my rough draft by November 25th. During the week of December 1st, I will edit, review, and finalize my paper with the help of peers and probably my mom to finally turn it on December 5th.

Works Cited

"5 Myths About Gender Neutral Parenting." Everyday Feminism. Everyday Feminism. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://everydayfeminism.com/2013/01/gender-neutral-parenting-myths/>.

Chew, Kristina. "Ze, Hir, Hirs; He, She, They: Which Pronouns Are You?" Care2. Care2. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. <http://www.care2.com/causes/ze-hir-hirs-he-she-they-which-pronoun-are-you.html?page=1>.

Gato, Jorge, and Anne Marie Fontaine. "Anticipation of the Sexual and Gender Development of Children Adopted by Same-Sex Couples." International Journal of Psychology 48.3 (2013): 244-53. Ebsco. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://ezproxy.olympic.edu:2255/ehost/detail/detail?sid=e2749f4f-7f05-4aa6-beb3-97ff44c5580b%40sessionmgr4001&vid=0&hid=4212&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=89102291>.

"Gender Creative Boy C.J. & Gender Non-Conforming Vs. Transgender." Recapo RSS. Recapo. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://www.recapo.com/the-doctors/the-doctors-kids/gender-creative-boy-c-j-gender-non-conforming-vs-transgender/>.

"Gender Liberation: The Harmful Effects of Raising Children 'Gender Neutral'" Christian Post. Christian Post. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://www.christianpost.com/news/gender-liberation-the-harmful-effects-of-raising-children-gender-neutral-68134/>.

Gender Neutral Bathroom Sign. Digital image. Liberty News. Web. 27 Oct. 2014. <http://            www.libertynews.com/2013/04/word-police-throw-the-statute-book-at-gender-bias/>.

"Gender Roles and Gender Differences." Gender Roles and Gender Differences. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. <http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0072820144/student_view0/chapter15/index.html>.

Gibson, Megan. "Parents Who Hid Child's Gender for Five Years Now Face Backlash." Time Magazine, 24 Jan. 2012. Time Magazine. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. <http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/01/24/parents-who-hid-childs-gender-for-five-years-now-face-backlash/>.

"The Great Pronoun Debate: An Attempt to Resolve a Touchy Issue." GrammarMudge. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://www.grammarmudge.cityslide.com/articles/article/307084/22324.htm>.

Halim, May Ling, et al. "Pink Frilly Dresses and the Avoidance of All Things "Girly": Children's Appearance Rigidity and Cognitive Theories of Gender Development." Social and Personality Psychology Compass 5/11 (2011): 933–949. Ebsco. Web. 03 Oct. 2014. <http://amodiolab.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Halim-Ruble-Amodio-2011.pdf>.

Jacobs, Janis E., and Jacquelynne S. Eccles. "The Impact of Mothers' Gender-Role Stereotypic Beliefs on Mothers' and Children's Ability Perceptions." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 63.6 (1992): 932-44. Ebsco. Web. 02 Oct. 2014. <http://www.rcgd.isr.umich.edu/garp/articles/jacobs92.pdf>.

Knafo, Ariel, Alessandra C. Lervolino, and Robert Plomin. "Masculine Girls and Feminine Boys: Genetic and Environmental Contributions to Atypical Gender Development in Early Childhood." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 88.2 (2005): 400-12. Ebsco. Web. 07 Oct. 2014. <http://ezproxy.olympic.edu:2257/ehost/detail/detail?sid=7e57c164-885d-410b-bb73-fb11fcd86c15%40sessionmgr114&vid=0&hid=116&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=15956992>.

Knight, Rona. "Fragmentation, Fluidity, and Transformation: Nonlinear Development in Middle Childhood."Psychoanalytic Study of the Child 65 (2011): 19-47. Ebsco. Web. 07 Oct. 2014. <http://ezproxy.olympic.edu:2257/ehost/detail/detail?sid=8035e953-281a-4513-970c-1b8d9b4358fa%40sessionmgr110&vid=0&hid=116&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=75240178>.

Leaper, Campbell. "Parents' Socialization of Gender in Children." Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Education (2013). Ebsco. Web. 02 Oct. 2014. <http://www.child-encyclopedia.com/documents/LeaperANGxp1.pdf>.

McHale, Susan M., Ann C. Crouter, and Shawn D. Whiteman. "The Family Contexts of Gender Development in Childhood and Adolescence." Social Development 12.1 (2003): 125-48. Ebsco. Web. 08 Oct. 2014. <http://ezproxy.olympic.edu:2257/ehost/detail/detail?sid=8035e953-281a-4513-970c-1b8d9b4358fa%40sessionmgr110&vid=0&hid=116&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=75240178>.

McHale, Susan M., Kim Ji-Yeaon, Shawn Whiteman, and Ann C. Crouter. "Links Between Sex-Typed Time Use in Middle Childhood and Gender Development in Early Adolescence." Developmental Psychology 40.5 (2004): 868-81. Ebsco. Web. 13 Oct. 2014. <http://ezproxy.olympic.edu:2257/ehost/detail/detail?sid=c4cbb550-4d14-4a28-b2ed-6a9bf8b2cbcc%40sessionmgr111&vid=0&hid=116&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=14274803>.

Pauletti, Rachel E., Patrick J. Cooper, and David G. Perry. "Influences of Gender Identity on Children's Maltreatment of Gender-Nonconforming Peers: A Person X Target Analysis of Aggression." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 106.5 (2014): 843-66. Ebsco. Web. 06 Oct. 2014. <http://ezproxy.olympic.edu:2255/ehost/detail/detail?sid=f7129a3f-111b-4031-ac03-6bdf2491be06%40sessionmgr4002&vid=0&hid=4109&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=95753194>.

Pyne, Jake. "Gender Independent Kids: A Paradigm Shift in Approaches to Gender Non-conforming Children." Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality 23.1 (2014): 1-8. Ebsco. Web. 03 Oct. 2014. <http://ezproxy.olympic.edu:2255/ehost/detail/detail?sid=cf80e7b4-6219-4651-8d31-7afc3e693d35%40sessionmgr4002&vid=0&hid=4109&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=95572517>.

Qualls, William J. "Changing Sex Roles: Its Impact Upon Family Decision Making." University of Michigan. Association For Consumer Research. 14 Oct. 2014. Ebsco. <http://www.acrwebsite.org/search/view-conference-proceedings.aspx?Id=6006>.

"Should You Raise a Gender-neutral Baby?" Parents Magazine. Parents Magazine Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://www.parents.com/parenting/gender-neutral-parenting/>.

Witt, Susan D. "Parental Influence on Children's Socialization to Gender Roles." Caly Poly College of Liberal Arts. Web. 04 Oct. 2014. <http://cla.calpoly.edu/~bmori/syll/311syll/Witt.html>.

Wood, Hayley, Shoko Sasaki, Susan J. Bradley, Devita Singh, Sophia Fantus, Allison Owen-Anderson, Jerald Di Giacomo, Kenneth J. Bain, and Kenneth J. Zucker. "Patterns of Referral to a Gender Identity Service for Children and Adolescents (1976-2011): Age, Sex Ratio, and Sexual Orientation.". Web. 05 Oct. 2014. Ebsco. <http%3A%2F%2Fezproxy.olympic.edu%3A2255%2Fehost%2Fdetail%2Fdetail%3Fsid%3D1da0baa0-b78c-4c5c-80c9-066561fc6823%2540sessionmgr4002%26vid%3D0%26hid%3D4109%26bdata%3DJnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%253d%253d%23db%3Daph%26AN%3D83404161>.

Zucker, Kenneth, Janet N. Mitchell, Susan J. Bradley, Jan Tkachuk, James M. Cantor, and Sara M. Allin. "The Recalled Childhood Gender Identity/Gender Role Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties." Sex Roles 54.7/8 (2006): 469-83. Ebsco. Web. 07 Oct. 2014. <http://ezproxy.olympic.edu:2257/ehost/detail/detail?sid=feebc871-d87d-435a-a89b-2342a33e3765%40sessionmgr114&vid=0&hid=116&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=23037657>.