Daughters aim for stars when dads do dishes

If you want your daughter to set her sights high, share with your wife domestic duties like doing the dishes or laundry.

Fathers who help with household chores are more likely to raise daughters who aspire to be less traditional and opt for higher paying careers, a study said.

While the mothers' gender and work equality beliefs were key factors in predicting the kids' attitudes towards gender, the strongest predictor of daughters' professional ambitions was their fathers' approach to household chores.

"This suggests girls grow up with broader career goals in households where domestic duties are shared more equitably by parents," said Alyssa Croft from University of British Columbia in Canada.

How fathers treat their domestic duties appears to play a unique gatekeeper role, Croft added.

The study involved 326 children aged 7-13 and at least one of their parent.

"'Talking the talk' about equality is important, but our findings suggest that it is crucial that dads 'walk the walk' as well - because their daughters clearly are watching," Croft said.

The study is set to appear in the journal Psychological Science.