Men Who Have Baby Girls Are Less Likely to Be Sexist

It makes sense that a new dad would stare down into his baby girl's eyes and never ever want to throw around the word "bitch" ever again, does it not? Now there is science to back up Jay-Z's change of heart, and the rest of the dudes out there who suddenly find themselves face-to-face with a daughter. Apparently new dads begin to change their mind -- for the better -- about traditional gender roles after they're blessed with a girl child.

Let's hear it for baby girls changing the world, one dad at a time! 

The decline in support for traditional gender roles was actually present in all new fathers, whether they were holding a baby boy or a baby girl. However, the decline got a lot more steep when a dad was a proud father of a little lady. Of course a new dad (a good new dad) would never want to limit his daughter's options in life. While men may have given lip service to feminism, or simply equality, before, they now have an actual human who is directly impacted by discrimination. Sure, they have wives, mothers, maybe sisters. But creating a new human versus choosing a lady you love is dramatically different.

I would say my husband became more aware of subtle discrimination against women in the workplace, and elsewhere, after we were together. While any outrage he may have over his wife experiencing discrimination may be real, you'd better not ever mess with is daughter. And I feel the same way. As an adult, I can take care of myself in the face of ugliness. But I never want my daughter to have to fight the same fights I've had to, and I'll be damned if it's going to happen on my watch.

Interestingly enough, the moms in this study did not change their positions significantly on traditional gender roles. Whether they (like me) are already firmly entrenched in the fight for equality or if moms simply expect their daughters to fight like they have had to is unclear.

Regardless, it's a great day when we can see that a tiny baby girl has the power to change a man's mind.

Did having a baby girl make you think differently about equality between the sexes?