I want to contribute to a world in which all children, regardless of their gender, reach their full potential. This has been my key motivation for conducting research on gender socialization in relation to the gender development and sexual development of children and adolescents. To achieve this goal, we need more research on processes that can reduce the confining influence of gender stereotypes on child and adolescent development. Several research lines contribute to this vision. 

Elements, determinants, and consequences of gender-neutral socialization

In this research line, we explore what gender-neutral socialization is and the various ways that it can be employed. Also, we investigate whether and how gender-neutral parenting can contribute to more gender-equal development of children. Relatedly, we examined the effectiveness of a newly developed educational program with counter-stereotypical female heroines on children’s gendered cognitions and behaviors. 

Why boys and men care less about caring?

A second research focus is on men’s clear and global underrepresentation in communal roles in health care, education, and the family. We aim to elucidate societal as well as developmental and socialization processes in the family and school context that underlie men’s lower (and women’s higher) involvement in communal roles. Unique is the focus on the male side of gender inequality, compared to most previous research that focused on increasing women’s economic participation and representation in STEM. In order to achieve true gender equality, emancipation on the side of men is urgently needed.

He is a stud, she is a slut? Sexual double standards and masculinity norms

In this research line, we investigate the predictors and consequences of the different societal norms for the sexual behavior of men and women (i.e., sexual double standards). Areas of interest are sexual pleasure, sexual risk behavior, sexual coercion and violence, and the role of (norms about) masculinity. We also focus on the roles of parents, the media (sexual content) and the norms of peers.

Gender identity and gender expression.
This involves research on the role of the social environment (parents, gender conformity pressures) in the development of children's and adolescents' gender identity. We also look at the impact of gender identity on the well-being of children and adolescents. In this line of research, we employ instruments that can determine gender identity in a less binary and more dimensional way. Furthermore, we use observations of the expression of gender identity in the appearance of children, adolescents and their parents.

Interdisciplinary collaboration and research
I strongly believe that interdisciplinary research is essential for contributing to “wicked” societal issues such as gender inequality. Therefore, I uniquely integrate approaches from social psychology (implicit measures, intergroup contact), sociology (cross-cultural comparisons), developmental psychology (longitudinal designs, socialization theories), child and family studies (observation of family processes, ecological systems approach), computer science (automated behavioral coding), neuroendocrinology (testosterone, thyroid hormones), and neuroscience (EEG, fMRI).