Mother-infant, father-infant interaction and involvement in childcare and household labor among Taiwanese families

Mother-infant and father-infant interactions were observed in the home, and parents provided estimates of their involvement in caregiving and household activities in 25 Taiwanese families. Observations indicated that mothers held infants more than did fathers and were more likely to feed, smile at, vocalize to, and engage in object play with them than were fathers. Fathers engaged in more rough play with infants than did mothers. There were no gender-of-parent differences in soothing infants or displaying affection to them. Mothers and fathers treated males and females quite similarly. Infants smiled at, vocalized to, approached, and were more distressed in the presence of mothers than in the presence of fathers. The questionnaire data revealed a markedly gender-differentiate pattern of involvement in childcare and household activities. The results were hypothesized to reflect Taiwanese societal rigidity in gender roles and filial piety.