Sorry Dad. She might be your little girl, but what she really wants is approval from Mom.
A new study published in the British Journal of Educational Psychology claims daughters achieve more when their mothers are proud of them. Researchers from the University of London followed more than 3,000 kids born in 1970, and found the girls whose mothers expected them to succeed at school are more likely to have higher self esteem as adults and more likely to have pursued higher education. They found no real affect for the boys, deducing mothers of daughters may be more likely to push their girls when it comes to education.
I can't help but wonder what they would have found if they'd looked beyond education. After all, the '70s stand out in the history of women's lib - and not just in America. England had its own version of the Women's Liberation Movement that fought for equal pay for women. Moms who may not have gotten much support to be all they could be as kids were suddenly learning, hey, being a girl doesn't have to hold you back.
But considering our parents are our first role models, it's no wonder girls look to Mom for approval of how we're doing on the path to being a grown up. She's our first example of what it means to BE a grown up. And other studies have already shown that when a mom is depressed, negative or anything BUT supportive, her daughter is more likely to struggle as an adolescent.
So Mom, have heart. She might slam the door and shove the iPod buds in her ears, but she still cares what you think . . .
Images: California State University
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