I remember our neighbour who used to talk a lot with my mother. We were all lower middle class, but she had ambitions. She loved her daughter, who, about fourteen or fifteen, was crazy about boys. She looked nice, okay, small upturned nose, wide, darting eyes that asked of you questions. I don't think she was good at studies, but her mother had her hopes hung upon her like you would string up washed clothes on the clothesline and hope they would come out clean and bright. I did not think that would happen.
I am reminded of that mother, and her faith and love for her daughter, because just now, I read an article, "How ambitious mothers breed successful daughters", about the study of the expectations of about 3,300 mothers as to their daughters' future. They were asked what they expected their 10-year old child's educational achievement would be.
The study concludes that "those participants whose mothers predicted that they would stay in school longer, tended to earn more money at the age of 26, and to report having a greater sense of control over their lives at 30, than the participants whose mothers predicted they would leave school early."
It is good news for daughters, but not for sons. The study finds that no matter what their mothers faith in them, it had no effect on the educational achievement or self-confidence of boys.
I don't know why.
As for my neighbour's daughter, she completed her degree, married a good boy, and is happy.
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