Leiden University Student Repository

van der Wal, Joëlle (2026)

Gezinsverschillen in attitudes tegenover gender en seksualiteit: Een vergelijking van expliciete genderstereotypen bij vaders en moeders en attitudes ten opzichte van gender non-conformiteit en homoseksualiteit tussen vaders, moeders en kinderen

Master thesis | Education and Child Studies (MSc)

Gender is a socially and culturally constructed concept. The expression of gender is shaped by the society and the social context in which a child grows up. Through gender socialisation, the process by which children largely internalise gender beliefs within the family, children learn to interpret masculinity and femininity. Parents play a central role in this process, as they transmit norms, values, and beliefs that are in line with societal views on masculinity and femininity. Three variables are central to this study: explicit gender stereotypes, gender non-conformity and homosexuality. This study examines how fathers and mothers differ in their adherence to gender stereotypes and the differences between family members in their attitudes towards gender non-conformity and homosexuality. Data were collected from 199 families, each consisting of a father, mother and two children, using three questionnaires to measure the three variables. The analysis using a paired t-test shows that...Show moreGender is a socially and culturally constructed concept. The expression of gender is shaped by the society and the social context in which a child grows up. Through gender socialisation, the process by which children largely internalise gender beliefs within the family, children learn to interpret masculinity and femininity. Parents play a central role in this process, as they transmit norms, values, and beliefs that are in line with societal views on masculinity and femininity. Three variables are central to this study: explicit gender stereotypes, gender non-conformity and homosexuality. This study examines how fathers and mothers differ in their adherence to gender stereotypes and the differences between family members in their attitudes towards gender non-conformity and homosexuality. Data were collected from 199 families, each consisting of a father, mother and two children, using three questionnaires to measure the three variables. The analysis using a paired t-test shows that fathers adhere more strongly to explicit gender stereotypes. The repeated measures ANOVA with pairwise comparisons between family members shows that fathers have a less positive attitude towards gender non-conformity and homosexuality than mothers. There were no significant differences between fathers and their children, but mothers did differ significantly from their children in their attitudes towards gender non-conformity. No differences were found between the children themselves. These results form a basis for future research into gender attitudes within families, in which explicit attention to the gender of the child may yield further insights.Show less

Author

van der Wal, Joëlle

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Orthopedagogiek

Supervisors

C. Nas

ECTS Credits

20

Language

nl