Which Parenting Style is More Sexist? Evidence from Türkiye

The research explores the association between parenting styles and sexist attitudes among university students in Türkiye. It focuses on four parenting styles — authoritative, indulgent, authoritarian, and neglectful — and examines their association with benevolent and hostile sexism. The sample comprised 371 university students aged 18 to 25. The participants completed questionnaires that assessed their perceptions of parenting styles as well as the levels of benevolent and hostile sexism they exhibited. The results indicated that authoritarian parenting was associated with higher benevolent and hostile sexism, while indulgent parenting was linked to lower sexism. Curiously, authoritative parenting, typically associated with positive development outcomes, also showed higher sexism, suggesting that its control dimension may reinforce traditional gender roles. The study highlights the importance of considering gendered socialization processes in understanding the development of sexist attitudes. It suggests parenting interventions should promote nurturing and supportive styles while minimizing controlling behaviors.