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How do Testosterone Levels Affect Parenting?

Updated: Apr 8, 2023


The word ‘Testosterone’ was coined in 1935 by Ernest Laquer who isolated the hormone in bull testes. Since then the brain and the body have been studied for the effects. It is well established that testosterone improves mood, heart health and muscle mass. Many people believe in a neurological difference in men and women, if this is the case then what effect would that have on childcare?

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Testosterone is a hormone that is found in both women and men and studies show that it is found in much smaller quantities in women, around 1/10th the amount men make. Testosterone starts to increase at puberty and then starts to decrease again at around 30. Although it plays a role in bodily function like muscle mass and sperm production, these things do not affect parenting, but the way it affects moods, actions and reactions does. Testosterone is commonly known for being the aggressive and high sex libido hormone. There is evidence that those, women and men, in roles of high power and competitive industries, have higher testosterone levels. Competition can increase testosterone and those with naturally higher testosterone will perform well in competitive roles, men are often seen in these roles suggesting that they have naturally higher testosterone levels. A 2015 study on Effects of gendered behavior on testosterone in women and men, rightfully points out that,


If men, more than women, are socialized to engage in competitive behaviors such as wielding power that increase testosterone, then this may partially explain why men have higher testosterone than women.


In this same study, an experiment was done which showed that those ‘wielding power’ showed higher levels of testosterone than those who did not, not only that, but women wielding power in a feminine condition gained equal amounts of testosterone as in masculine conditions, whereas men only had an increase in testosterone levels while in the masculine condition and a smaller increase in the feminine condition. This proves that testosterone is not ‘maleness’ but a factor of social surroundings such as competition and positions of power from a young age,


Social context akin to gender norms may have biological consequences when gender norms overlap with evolutionarily salient phenomena such as wielding power. Because wielding power is subject to gender-specific socialization, gender socialization can constrain how frequently women and men engage in behaviours that affect testosterone. Testosterone thus reflects some combination of both heritable and social influences.


Additionally, this also indicates that adults in positions of power are more likely to be aggressive and have higher sex drives due to their naturally increased testosterone. Many factors can contribute to the way children of opposite genders may act differently, UCSF researcher Jeffery Norris suggests,


But while it is difficult to overstate the roles of acculturation and socialization in human development, countless parents suspect that on average most girls and boys are inherently different when it comes to behaviour. It may be that humans retain sex differences in brain circuitry leftover from an earlier era of mammalian evolution


Parents can sometimes enact these changes within their own household by assigning different chores or encouraging different hobbies, for example.


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The term ‘neurosexism’ was coined by Cordelia Fine in 2008. The term suggests that there are no neurological differences determined by biological sex, we are shaped by experiences and it is social factors that create these differences. It is possible for brains to be different, of course, but Fine claims that these differences are not defined by sex. In parenting, a child may grow up at first with their mother, as she is breastfeeding it only makes sense for her to stay with the child. This is a formative experience for a child as they create a bond with the mother as ‘primary carer’. This is essentially where the necessity stops, there is little to no modern evidence that suggests women are better parents than men. In a 2012 study by Sari Van Anders, three groups of men were asked to care for a programmable model baby. One group was told to sit and just listen to the crying, another was instructed to try to console the baby (but the baby would continue to cry no matter what) and the final group was told to console the baby and the baby would calm down when consoled correctly. In the first two groups, testosterone levels grew, however in the last group testosterone levels decreased from their original point. So while lower testosterone levels might be linked to nurturance, successful nurture also creates lower testosterone levels. Testosterone also does not exist equally in every partnership, for example, those in non-heterosexual couples will have different parenting experiences (in terms of hormone levels) to those who are. Some parents may have undergone or are currently undergoing medical transition, meaning they have changed their natural hormone levels. Not only this but they may have only socially transitioned in later life meaning they were brought up as their assigned gender. This means that a transgender man could be the carrier of the child and therefore the ‘primary carer’ despite increased testosterone levels, although most transgender men would temporarily terminate their prescription they still have the social groundings of ‘male’ perhaps naturally increasing testosterone anyway. Additionally, non-binary parents do not fit into the societal gender roles of parenting and their hormones could be of any level. It is also possible that parents are still in a relationship at the time of birth and men in long term relationships have lower levels of testosterone meaning they are more equipped for childcare as the relationship continues, men with much higher testosterone are less likely to have a bond with their children. If the mother is to take a high ranking position at work her testosterone levels would rise and this would only have an effect if she began to not nurture the child at all, as seen in the previous study, if she continues to care for her baby when it cries, for example, she will balance out as her testosterone levels lower again when the baby is consoled, not creating a rift in childcare and this has the same effect in men.


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The traits that come with testosterone such as competitiveness are not helpful in parenting. This usually means that when a parent is more active in parenting they have lower testosterone levels as they are in less competitive and aggressive scenarios. Testosterone lowers to a level in which it becomes helpful, such as heightened spatial cognition meaning one can assess environments and therefore potential danger with efficiency. On the other hand, too little testosterone in a person who has naturally high testosterone has been seen to cause bouts of depression, although low testosterone may seem to be beneficial it can actually create an unhealthy environment for the parent and in return the child. If testosterone were to remain high then a parent may try to compete for parental space or become detached altogether. Testosterone doesn’t lower adoration or parenting skill but it does mean a parent is more likely to get frustrated and impatient. Increased or those with naturally high testosterone levels are more likely to have better moods and more energy, this would be beneficial to be with a happy toddler for example who wants to play. When the child becomes a teenager they will start to develop their own hormones and in a way, a parent could almost create scenarios for the teen to have more or less natural testosterone through puberty. The healthiest option is to create a neutral space, where testosterone can settle at a natural level whether that is high or low. It is likely that if a parent is naturally high in testosterone the child will be as well, especially if they have a good relationship. The parent will act competitively and perhaps be in high spirits often but has quick bursts of temper, the child will perhaps mimic this at school and teachers and peers may further encourage this behaviour by putting them in competitive sports or classes.


Conclusion

Although it is often stated that men have higher testosterone levels than women, it has been proven that the higher testosterone is a result of social factors and not entirely of innate biology. This means that Fathers have the ability to stay home and be equally beneficial caregivers as Mothers. Testosterone is the scientific version of the societal phrase, ‘boys will be boys’ which encourages behaviour that disrespects peers of any gender. It is clear here, however, that because those situations create testosterone there is no excuse for toxic masculinity to exist in biological terms and thus why men mature under paternal scenarios as their testosterone is balanced.



References

Hines, S. and Taylor, M., 2018. Is Gender Fluid?. london: Thames & Hudson, pp.23, 27, 42.


Nieschlag, E., 2005. The history of testosterone. Endocrine Abstracts, [online] (2). Available at: <https://www.endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/0010/ea0010s2> [Accessed 30 October 2020].


Norris, J., 2009. Estrogen Plays Key Role In Male Brain Development. [online] Estrogen Plays Key Role in Male Brain Development | UC San Francisco. Available at: <https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2009/10/8199/estrogen-plays-key-role-male-brain-development> [Accessed 2 November 2020].


Roland, J. and Biggers, A., 2019. What Is Testosterone, And How Does It Affect Your Health?. [online] Healthline. Available at: <https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-testosterone> [Accessed 29 October 2020].


van Anders, S. and Goldey, K., 2010. Testosterone and partnering are linked via relationship status for women and ‘relationship orientation’ for men. Hormones and Behavior, 58(5), pp.820-826.


Van Anders, S., 2011. Baby cries and nurturance affect testosterone in men. PubMed,.


van Anders, S., Steiger, J. and Goldey, K., 2015. Effects of gendered behavior on testosterone in women and men. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(45), pp.13805-13810.


Zitzmann, M., 2006. Testosterone and the brain. PubMed, [online] Available at: <https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17178554/#:~:text=Testosterone%20appears%20to%20activate%20a,is%20associated%20with%20depressive%20disorders.> [Accessed 30 October 2020].


I write these pieces in the context of their time and my knowledge. My views and understanding of these topics will likely change and I embrace that. I will not make changes to these unless offensive language was used unintentionally. These pieces are a form of memory and part of my personal history. I want to recognise the mistakes I may have made in the past so that I can continue to learn. I upload it here not to force my views but just to have it somewhere. I acknowledge that sex and gender are complex, multifaceted issues that are subject to ongoing debate and discussion. You are welcome to your own views on these topics and I hope that you continue to look into these topics in your own space. I ask that you do not enquire to those within minority groups to ask for education. Use the tools at your disposal, the internet, books etc.

Thank you



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