SMU Associate Professor of Political Science Devin K Joshi and University of Washington PhD student Ryan Goehrung published a research paper titled ‘Mothers and Fathers in Parliament: MP Parental Status and Family Gaps from a Global Perspective’. They found that while female MPs are still more likely to be unmarried and have fewer children, the gap in parental and marital status of members of parliament varies considerably internationally. They argue that by implementing social reforms to reduce gender inequality, and introducing specific reforms to create more inclusive parliaments, this gap could be closed worldwide.