Gender socialization in the family system: an observational study of triadic interactional synchrony
Type de matériel :
TexteLangue : français Détails de publication : 2025.
Ressources en ligne : Abrégé : Gender socialization has been a major topic of inquiry in developmental psychology. However, past research has relied mostly on dyadic models which have shown more inconsistencies than consensus. It is our intention to reflect on the child’s gender socialization within the family system, specifically in the triadic nuclear subsystem, by discussing results from two previously studies with low-income Brazilian families. Results from these two studies have shown that family triadic synchrony was predicted by: (1) father-child dyadic synchrony parameters in comparison to mother-child synchrony parameters; (2) families with girls in comparison to families with boys; (3) fathers reporting traditional socialization goals towards dependency for their children; (4) a maternal regulatory mechanism of family cohesion. Taken together, these results reveal a particular type of family functioning that promotes father involvement and family cohesion, but also gender inequality in low-income Brazilian families. Results uncover a subtle mechanism within the family system that, via nonverbal channels, reinforces gender stereotypes in the family (especially in families with girls) and in the larger society playing a role in perpetuating gender inequality in Brazilian society. This gender inequality transmission mechanism may work in a cycle that is hard to break because it may be deeply rooted in the Brazilian patriarchal society. The present study uncovers a gender socialization process within the family system that expands research in the field and should be further investigated.
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Gender socialization has been a major topic of inquiry in developmental psychology. However, past research has relied mostly on dyadic models which have shown more inconsistencies than consensus. It is our intention to reflect on the child’s gender socialization within the family system, specifically in the triadic nuclear subsystem, by discussing results from two previously studies with low-income Brazilian families. Results from these two studies have shown that family triadic synchrony was predicted by: (1) father-child dyadic synchrony parameters in comparison to mother-child synchrony parameters; (2) families with girls in comparison to families with boys; (3) fathers reporting traditional socialization goals towards dependency for their children; (4) a maternal regulatory mechanism of family cohesion. Taken together, these results reveal a particular type of family functioning that promotes father involvement and family cohesion, but also gender inequality in low-income Brazilian families. Results uncover a subtle mechanism within the family system that, via nonverbal channels, reinforces gender stereotypes in the family (especially in families with girls) and in the larger society playing a role in perpetuating gender inequality in Brazilian society. This gender inequality transmission mechanism may work in a cycle that is hard to break because it may be deeply rooted in the Brazilian patriarchal society. The present study uncovers a gender socialization process within the family system that expands research in the field and should be further investigated.




Réseaux sociaux