Father Involvement, Gender Perception and Children’s Gender Stereotypes

Abstract

The main purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between fathers' involvement, their gender perceptions, and the gender stereotypes of children. A relational survey model was used in this research. The sampling of the research is composed of 151 randomly selected 60 to 72-month-old children, who attended preschools in the centre of Muğla province in Turkey, and their fathers. As data collecting tools, Demographic Information Form, Father Involvement Scale (60), Perceptions of Gender Scale (3), and Gender Stereotypes Assessment Instrument (65) were utilized. According to research results, fathers' equalitarian perspective regarding gender increases their involvement levels. On the other hand, it was determined that the gender of the child and the age of their father play a significant role in their father's involvement. It was determined that there is a significant positive relation between the gender stereotypes of the child and their father's arbitrary engagement, which is one of the sub-dimensions of the father involvement scale. It was also discovered that while the fathers' income is significant in the gender stereotypes of children; factors like their occupation, age, gender perceptions, and their involvement levels are not.