Role of the father - AO3

Question 1

What are strengths of role of the father?

Answer 1

• P: Strength = economic implications
• E: Early theories implied fathers should play more econmic role but research has shown they can play an equal role
• E: This means that more mothers may return to work and contribute to the economy
• L: So the gender pay gap may be reduced as parental roles are seen as equal
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• P: Strength = Practical applications
• E: Research can be used to give advice and challenges any sterotypical views that mothers must play a nurturing role
• E: can reassure same - sex couples that caregiver roles are not gender specific
• L: So parental anxiety can be reduced by research findings

Question 2

What is a limitation of role of the father?

Answer 2

• P: Limitation = contradicting research
• E: Grossman study suggests children without fathers would develop differently (no play = lesser cognitive development)
• E: McCallum and Golombok (2004): Children from single mother or lesbian parent families have no developmental differences
• L: So research is yet to answer whether fathers has distictive role