Mexican-Origin Mothers’ and Fathers’ Concerns about Raising Sons Versus Daughters

• In Event: Poster Session 01
  In Poster Session: PS 01 Topic - Sex, Gender

Abstract

Consistent with cultural ecological frameworks (García Coll et al., 1996) parenting takes place in cultural contexts that shape the way parents organize their children’s family roles (McHale et al., 2005). Mexican culture, in particular, is noted for its emphasis on traditional gender socialization (Umaña-Taylor & Updegraff, 2012), with boys granted more freedom and girls more carefully monitored (Domenech Rodriguez et al., 2009). These gender-based socialization experiences shape adolescents’ worldviews, define the future opportunities they consider for themselves, and influence the development of their values, goals, and aspirations (Galambos et al., 2009).
Qualitative research on gender socialization in Latinx families has addressed adolescents’ perspectives (Crockett & Russell, 2013) and college females’ reports of experiences from childhood and adolescence (Raffaelli & Ontai, 2004) using small samples that may not capture within-group variation. To extend this literature, we examined how Mexican-origin mothers and fathers think about the challenges of raising daughters versus sons. In doing so, the current study provides novel information on Mexican-origin parents’ perceptions of their gender-related socialization. Although traditional gender role values anchor Mexican culture (Updegraff et al., 2014), we utilize an ethnic homogenous design (McLoyd, 1998) to capture potential within-group variation.
The sample included Mexican-origin mothers and fathers in 112 families, raising both an adolescent-age son and a daughter (older siblings M = 15.51, SD = 1.63; younger siblings M = 12.55, SD = 0.63), drawn from a larger study. Mothers and fathers were 38.75 (SD = 4.66) and 41.69 (SD = 5.76) years old, on average, and the majority were born in Mexico. Median family income was $40,800 (SD = $39,353; range = $5,000 to over $250,000). Parents had completed an average of 10 years of education. During home interviews, parents answered two open-ended questions: (1) Are there special concerns that come up when raising a boy that are different than the issues you face raising a girl? (2) Are there special concerns that come up when raising a girl that are different than the issues you face raising a boy? Parents responded in their preferred language (66.52% Spanish) and Spanish interviews were translated to English prior to coding.
Results indicated that 98 mothers (87.5%) and 81 fathers (72.3%) noted differences. Although mothers’ reports did not differ by nativity, χ2 (1) = 1.60, p = .21, U.S.-born fathers compared to foreign-born fathers more often reported differences, χ2 (1) = 8.44, p < .01. Twelve primary themes emerged, along with additional subthemes (see Table 1). Parents reported more restriction because “girls have more dangers” (e.g., sexual abuse), whereas parents stressed education for their sons, anticipating sons’ future financial responsibilities because “they will one day be the provider [for their families]”. Next steps will include comparisons of gendered treatment by parents’ gender attitudes and birth order of girl-boy dyads. Given parents are some of the most powerful socializing agents in adolescents’ lives, we aimed to provide insights into parents’ perceptions of their gender socialization and build a more comprehensive understanding of parents’ motivations regarding their gendered treatment of adolescent-age offspring.

Authors

• Jenny Padilla, University of Notre Dame
  Presenting Author

• Norma J Perez-Brena, University of Arizona
  Non-Presenting Author

• Kimberly Updegraff, Arizona State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Susan McHale, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Non-Presenting Author

• Adriana J. Umaña-Taylor, Harvard University
  Non-Presenting Author