Boys with sisters more likely to be conservative politically and at home: study

[happyslug]

59. Could it be "Intact" families are more stable?

One of the changes over the last 40 or so years is the increase number of adults living without partners. Thus in many such households with children the parent who has the child has to do both of the traditional roles of Mother and Father. Thus traditional roles are less important to such families for someone has to do them.

On the other hand families with both Mother and Father in the same household tend to be more stable, not only in relationships but income. Thus mothers and fathers can do traditional roles of Mother and Father if they want. Given the the difference is only 15%, that tendency could be explained by the more stable environment that occurs when mother and father live together (Another way to look at it is when Mother and Father are able to live together it is due to the fact they have a more stable economic situation, thus they can afford to be more conservative).

Notice the article does not mention income. Remember when income are higher, it is easier for families to be stable. Thus what we may be seeing is such the affect of higher income, i.e. lower income families can not afford to be sexists, but higher income families, when it comes to boys, can afford to be sexist.

In simple terms we may be seeing the effect of the drop in income of the last 40 years more then anything else.