Children of Same-Sex Couples: As Adults, They Choose Careers Less Tied to Gender Stereotypes

For over twenty years, the public debate on same-sex parenting has focused primarily on one question: Are children raised by same-sex couples doing as well as those raised by heterosexual couples? The scientific literature has progressively shown that, in terms of health, psychological well-being, and academic performance, no systematic disadvantages emerge; in some cases, in fact, the observed differences point in a positive direction. Much less was known, however, about what happens when these children become adults and enter the labor market.

A new study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family fills this gap by using administrative data on the entire Dutch population. The study tracks over 381,000 young adults up to age 25, including 760 who were raised in same-sex parent families, offering the first large-scale analysis of their employment prospects.

The study’s authors are Silvia Palmaccio (Dondena Centre for Research on Social Dynamics and Public Policy and Invernizzi Center for Social Policy Impact Research and Evaluation – INSPIRE, Bocconi University), along with Deni Mazrekaj (KU Leuven, Utrecht University, and the University of Oxford) and Kristof De Witte (KU Leuven and UNU-MERIT).

A still-controversial issue

The research comes at a time when the parental rights of same-sex couples continue to be the subject of debate in many countries. Although many countries have recognized same-sex marriage and expanded adoption rights, legislative restrictions and cultural resistance persist.

The authors note that much of the political discussion is still based on the idea that growing up in a same-sex parent family may entail lasting disadvantages. However, until now, there has been a lack of sufficiently comprehensive data to verify whether these potential effects emerge once education is completed and working life begins.

As the authors explain:

“This study provides the first population-based evidence on the trajectory of young adults from same-sex parent families as they enter the labor market shortly after completing their full-time education.”

The goal is therefore to understand whether being raised by two mothers or two fathers influences income, employment, and professional integration in early adulthood.

A snapshot of the entire population

The authors use longitudinal tax and administrative records from the Netherlands, which allow them to track all citizens born between 1995 and 1999 over time.

The final sample includes 381,131 25-year-olds who have completed their education. Among them, 760 lived for at least one year in a same-sex parent family, and 246 were raised in a same-sex parent family from birth.

The researchers analyzed four key indicators:

• annual income;
• hourly wage;
• probability of being employed;
• probability of working full-time.

No disadvantage in the labor market

The main finding is very clear: 

“Young adults raised in same-sex-parent families earn as much as their peers raised in heterosexual families, have the same employment rate, and the same likelihood of having a full-time job.”

After considering numerous factors—family income, parents’ educational attainment, family stability, ethnic background, and other socioeconomic characteristics—no statistically significant differences emerge between the two groups. In other words, children of same-sex couples show neither economic advantages nor disadvantages compared to their peers raised in heterosexual families.

This finding is particularly significant because it contradicts one of the most common objections raised in public debate: the idea that any difficulties experienced during childhood might lead to poorer outcomes once they enter the workforce.

Where a difference does emerge: career choices

While income and employment levels are essentially the same, a significant difference emerges in career choices. The study shows that young people raised in same-sex parent families are more likely to choose career fields traditionally associated with the opposite sex.

Men raised by same-sex parents are more likely to be found in female-dominated fields, such as healthcare, social services, and education. Women, on the other hand, show a greater inclination toward typically male-dominated sectors, although in this case the statistical association is not significant. In practice, young people raised from birth in same-sex parent families are nearly twice as likely to pursue career paths that deviate from gender expectations.

The authors propose an explanation linked to family socialization. In same-sex couples, the division of household labor tends to be more balanced than in many heterosexual couples. Children therefore grow up observing less rigid models of family role distribution. Furthermore, boys and girls raised in same-sex parent families are often less bound by behaviors considered “masculine” or “feminine” and show more interest in gender-neutral activities. These different family models could help reduce the internalization of gender stereotypes and broaden the range of possible career choices.

However, the research finds no evidence to support other frequently advanced hypotheses: there is no significant role played by family size, human capital accumulated during schooling, or regional discrimination between urban and rural areas.

An important contribution to the debate on same-sex parenting

The study represents one of the most solid bodies of empirical evidence available today on this topic. Thanks to the use of administrative population data rather than small samples of volunteers, the results are particularly robust.

Based on these data, therefore, we can conclude that growing up with two mothers or two fathers does not hinder entry into the labor market. If a difference exists, it relates instead to the way these young people navigate professional sectors, making choices that are less aligned with traditional gender norms. 

At a time when many economies are seeking to reduce gender disparities in educational and career paths, this finding suggests that the family context may help shape aspirations and careers in deeper ways than previously thought.