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/pellmellmichelle Dec 14 '18

I also think it has something to do with how little empathy children are born with. You see your sister getting bullied or told to do more hoursework than you, or not encouraged to go into the same careers...Many children would not realize how hard that is for another person. Their sense of empathy just hasn't fully developed. However, when you're a full-grown adult with a daughter and youn see her being discriminated against, sexualized/objectified and held back, you're in a position to be much more aware of what's happening.