Parents want young children raised without gender stereotypes, research finds

MOST parents want young children raised the same regardless of gender, and are wary of the impact of gender stereotypes, according to research.

FOUR out of five parents want to challenge “restrictive gender stereotypes” surrounding their young children according to research.

An Our Watch study to be released today found 92 per cent of parents thought boys and girls should be raised the same in their early years.

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Our Watch chief executive Mary Barry. Picture: Rendezview

Mothers were more comfortable than fathers with children acting “in opposition” to gender stereotypes, such as young sons crying when they feel sad — fathers were more “rigid” about boys’ roles.

Parents of young girls (aged 0 to 3) were “more comfortable with the idea of them engaging with masculine-type play, such as playing with trucks” than parents of young boys were with sons’ participation in feminine-type play, “such as playing with dolls”.

Our Watch chief executive, Mary Barry, said it mattered because “gender stereotypes can influence and limit their choices”.

“Ultimately, it affects the roles they take in society as adults,” she said.