Do Gay Men Make Better Uncles? One Study Suggests They Do
Written By Savvy Auntie Staff Writers
By Colleen Dowd
We know that having a loving and supportive aunt in a nieces or nephew’s life makes it richer. And the same is true for uncles. But besides being a good role model, are there other factors that make a great uncle?
According to a recent study in Psychological Science, a journal published by the Association for Psychological Science, it may be in his genes. The study compared the dedication of heterosexual Samoan men and heterosexual Samoan women to their nieces and nephews with that of homosexual Samoan men, who are considered to be part of a third distinct gender. By looking at the family structure and the treatment of children, the study resulted in some interesting findings.
These gay uncles are a vital part of the family and have a real impact of their nieces and nephews. They love, teach, babysit, and buy toys for their brother’s and sister’s children. This dedication to their nieces and nephews was found to be greater than that of straight aunts and uncles.
But besides the extra attention, researchers believe that it’s this super supportive nature that has kept homosexuality in the gene pool. Having that additional attention and guidance gives their niece or nephew an advantage over other children. Researchers believe that these children grow up, thrive, and reproduce therefore keeping the reported “gay gene” alive.
Whether their belief is true or not, nieces and nephews are lucky to have great gay or straight uncles in their lives. Just like aunts, they enrich the littlest relatives lives by spending time with them and encouraging them to grow into the best adults they can be!
Colleen Dowd is a freelance writer.