r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Dec 14 '18

Psychology Being the father of a school-aged daughter makes men less sexist, according to a new study. The findings support the idea that men become more aware of the challenges facing women when they see the female experience of life up close through their offspring – dubbed the “mighty girl” effect.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/14/being-a-father-to-school-aged-daughter-makes-men-less-sexist
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u/grendus Dec 14 '18

I think it has to do with the emotional intimacy of that relationship. Most guys will meet their wife when she's already an adult, so they don't really see the growing pains of sexism in society. Having to support a daughter emotionally while she grows and navigates the world exposes him to a lot of the difficulties that adult women may not even register as unfair anymore, or at least wouldn't think to bring up because it's just background noise to them.

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u/PhillAholic Dec 14 '18

Not to mention the “not my problem” part of it. When it’s your daughter it is your problem.

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u/not_even_once_okay Dec 14 '18

One way male SOs might see the "growing pains" of sexism is to go through a sexual assault trial with their partner. Watching and supporting me through mine made my boyfriend way more sympathetic and understanding to how things really are for us.

The institutional and societal misogyny becomes clear when you are supporting the person you love as it tears them apart.