Mind the semi-humorous subject; it was the initial joking thought that caused me to wonder while I sat behind my computer, and later on while I floated somewhere between sleep and awakeness.

My memory caught onto some critical psychoanalytical phrases on one-parent households that were mostly based on gender roles: how a child is better off when exposed to both a male and female figure while developing as an infant. The mother's nurture and care /slash/ the father's 'toughen up' influences through little struggle-plays.

It made me wonder how those theories would apply to a one-parent household wherin the parent is androgyne. And, to extend; how an infant's growing up is affected by the fact that one of their parents (or only parent) is androgyne, if there is an effect at all.

I'm curious about everyone's views on this, and assuming that some of you might have children also interested in how an androgyne gender identity influences the relationship between a child and their parent.

Naturally, I understand that these questions appear somewhat personal if not invasive, and I don't want to appear as if I'm poking for personal experiences, but I'm interested in everyone's view on this: How does or doesn't a parent's being androgyne influence the raising of a child?

There have been many real life examples and scholarly studies on the subject of androgynous parenting. Individuals, single or otherwise, who possess psychological androgyny make wonderful parents! Androgynes are excellent role models and are infinitely accepting of their children's own gender identities and expressions. I don't think you could ask for a better parental situation or more rounded, well-adjusted, self-assured children.

Sandra Bem put forth the concept of psychological androgyny and developed The Bem Sex Role Inventory. She, and her husband Daryl, are both Androgynes. They raised their own children in a gender aschematic environment.

The Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) is a test to measure psychological gender and psychological androgyny. Unlike other tests, an individual may score high on both the feminine and masculine scales. When this happens, the individual is psychologically androgynous, applying appropriate characteristics when necessary. People who are psychologically androgynous are commonly known as Androgynes.

You can read more here... http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/sandrabem2.htm

-Emerald

Thanks for that Emerald; the studies by Dr. Bem do provide a large amount of insight.
However, I'm not too sure about her stab at the Cognitive Development Theory in relation to the Aschematic environment. It almost seems as if that the schematic/aschematic devision makes CDT more reliable, especially the second due to the neutrality.

Hm, I suppose my brain will have more to munch on.

I don't know how a single parent family would influence children.  I do know that when me, Sophie and Err adopt, one day, if we have the money and time to devote to raising children, we're planning on raising them as gender neutral as possible.  It's going to be impossible to raise them with complete neutrality, because we plan to adopt older children, for whom gender roles will probably already have been drilled into their skulls.

Our children will be raised knowing that Sophie is mtf, Err is ftm and I am androgyne, I believe is the plan.  I know that we're planning on teaching our children that gender roles and gender identity are two separate things and there is no reason whatsoever to follow gender roles just because of your gender identity.  Heck, I'm carving my own path entirely as far as gender roles go.

My children will be taught that genitalia is separate from behaviour.  Any questions they ever ask will be answered honestly and fully.  (Aside from things like "What am I getting for my birthday?" of course.)

I want to examine female and male stereotypes and break them down with my children, rather than hiding the stereotypes as Dr. Bem did.  Any child I adopt will likely be old enough to understand this concept at least on its most simplistic level.  I want to look at what the media says about both male and female bodies and ideals and talk to my children about why I disagree.  Hopefully, doing this will turn around at least partially any damage done by the world my children grow up in.

Tay, you already know that the triangle has my blessing with smiles included, and that I believe it's going to be one complex and unordinary household ready to serve as research material.

I was wondering, though, if children were raised to be so openminded, perhaps even neutral then their perceptions would clash with the overal norm induced by society... It probably wouldn't make their life easier, but more likely a rocky ride even if their attitude should serve as a rolemodel... *ponders*... It's a complicated situation.. 

Yes, in some ways, their lives may be more difficult, but when it comes to other aspects of their existence and life, they'll have it so much better.  Despite all the hardship that may come, and I do believe that they might choose to, on the surface, conform, just to avoid bullying, the best gift I can think of giving to a child that I loved is a lack of limitations.  Not a lack of boundaries, understand.  I want my children to be unlimited and not think of things as I did, in terms of "If I do this, I'll be the first woman ever to do this.  Geeze... that's really hard."

My children should be limited only by their own abilities and their own imagination, not the imaginations of people long dead who began traditions that do not make sense.

Hmm sounds good to me.

Quote from: Tay on June 25, 2007, 10:48:15 AM
My children should be limited only by their own abilities and their own imagination, not the imaginations of people long dead who began traditions that do not make sense.

I just had to quote that sentence. It's brilliant.