United KingdomA study conducted in 2022 examined how U.S. schools respond to enrollment inquiries from two-parent households. Researchers sent emails to over 80,000 K–12 school principals from a fictional family where both parents were equally involved. Despite equal involvement, schools disproportionately contacted mothers first, about 60% of principals reached out to mothers before fathers. Even when the email indicated the father was more available, schools still often contacted mothers first. Additional cues, such as the father sending the email and copying the mother, increased the likelihood of contacting the father, but mothers still received a significant portion of the calls. This pattern highlights a persistent assumption that mothers are the primary point of contact for school-related matters.
Bias read (Center): The article presents empirical findings from a study without overtly favoring any side. It describes the observed behavior of schools without taking a stance on whether this practice is appropriate or biased. The language remains neutral, focusing on data rather than advocacy.
