Father's Impact on Son's Gender Role Identity

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study investigates the similarities between the gender role identities of 12 year‐old boys and their fathers. An attempt was also made to determine the influence of father‐son interaction on the specific nature of these similarities. The study was carried out in Jyväskylä and the subjects comprised 113 12 year‐old boys and their fathers. The sex role orientation of fathers and their sons was measured by a sex role inventory designed for the study. Father — son correlations were studied in relation to the frequency and quality of father‐son interaction, especially with regard to the paternal warmth and paternal control involved. The son's masculinity correlated positively with the father's masculinity and negatively with the father's femininity. Both the warmth of the father‐son relationship and paternal control strengthened these associations. The femininity of the son did not correlate either with the femininity or the masculinity of the father.