Trends in parenting can change quickly. One evolution is between so-called “helicopter parents” who hover over their kids, watching their every move, and so-called “free-range” parents, who are more likely to let their kids roam free.

Meanwhile, state lawmakers are often trying to catch up with these changes. Utah recently approved a law stipulating that neglect does not include “permitting a child, whose basic needs are met and who is of sufficient age and maturity to avoid harm or unreasonable risk of harm, to engage in independent activities.”

But in a piece in The Atlantic, Jessica Calarco argues there’s a double standard when it comes to free-range parenting and the laws governing it. She’s an assistant professor of sociology at Indiana University.