Like Father, Like Son: Empirical Insights into the Intergenerational Continuity of Masculinity Ideology

In this study, we theorize the role of fathers ’ adherence to masculinity ideology in influencing the development of young men’s masculine ideals. We then provide novel empirical evidence on intergenerational congruence between fathers’ and sons’ masculinities using unique data from an Australian national probability survey. Our results reveal moderate, positive associations between fathers’ and sons’ adherence to masculinity ideology. This pattern holds for an overall measure of masculinity, as well as for each of its subscales. Fathers’ religiosity amplified the magnitude of the intergenerational correlation. These findings suggest that interventions aimed at encouraging the development of healthy masculinities amongst young men should engage their paternal figures.
Source: Sex Roles - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research