Parenthood is deeply influenced by individual beliefs, and a fascinating correlation has been uncovered between parenting styles and political leanings. This relationship has been explored in a survey that highlights key differences between conservative and liberal parents and how their political beliefs translate into parenting.
In a study involving over 3,800 new and expecting mothers, participants rated their political orientation, described their approach to child-rearing, and disclosed the values they deemed important for their kids. The study has illuminated distinct differences and intriguing correlations between political inclinations and parenting styles.
Mothers who identified as liberals prioritised teaching their children values such as kindness (56%), happiness (55%), and empathy (51%). In terms of parenting style, they more often opted for descriptions like 'gentle', 'nurturing', 'and 'loving'. Their approach indicated a supportive attitude towards their children, possibly inspired by the belief that kids need direction and understanding and to carve out their path in life.
On the other hand, conservative mothers said respect (53%), faith/spirituality (49%), and honesty (46%) were the teachings they prioritized for their children. Labels like 'religious/spiritual', 'strict', 'and 'structured' often summed up their parenting style reflecting their belief that instilling a sense of discipline and morality from an early age is beneficial.
However, it’s also important to note that most moms place themselves in the middle of the political spectrum. These moderate moms make up 53% of the respondents, often combining the approaches of liberal and conservative parents in their parenting style.
Liberal moms often described their parenting style as 'gentle'. These mothers were more likely to identify themselves as millennials, live in a suburban area, hold a job, and have just one child. They also admitted that their own upbringing was rather hands-off and relaxed.
Conservative moms' parenting, on the other hand, was often referred to as 'strict'. These mothers were frequently Gen Z women who lived in rural areas, choose to be stay-at-home moms, and most of them had two or more kids. They overwhelmingly described their childhood as religious and/or spiritual.
It was seen that while the core values liberal and conservative mothers wish to teach their children vary substantially, their parenting styles intersect in many ways. Both liberal and conservative moms equally claimed to be ‘fun’, ‘involved’, ‘protective’ and ‘resourceful’ in their parenting.
This finding signifies that, despite political differences, the main goal of all parents remains constant: raising their child in the best possible way they see fit, irrespective of their political leanings.
Interestingly, the survey respondents who identified as politically moderate outnumbered both the liberal and conservative moms combined, making up over 53% of the participants.
Moderate mothers tended to blend elements of both liberal and conservative parenting, often describing their style as loving, gentle, and supportive but also traditional, strict, and religious. Their desired values for their children — kindness and happiness integrated well with honesty and respect, showing influences from both ends of the political spectrum.
The factors contributing to people’s established political affiliations are many. The formation can be attributed to various elements, including upbringing. Personality traits are a significant aspect influencing preferences and choices in several domains, including parenting and politics.
The environmental influence on a person’s political ideology can’t be disregarded. It’s quite plausible that these mothers may propagate their perspectives to their children by exemplifying an approach of kind, respectful, and responsible behavior.
The survey was conducted by Everyday Health Group Pregnancy & Parenting between December 2022 and January 2023, using a scale of 1 (very liberal) to 7 (very conservative).
3,814 women across the US, aged between 18 and 54, who were either pregnant or had a child aged 0 to 8, took part in the study. Political ideologies were categorized with rankings 1-2 as Liberal, 3-5 as Moderate and 6-7 as Conservative.
Many aspects of our lives, including parenting, appear to be guided by our political sensibilities. The findings illustrate that while liberal, conservative, and moderate parents may go about parenting differently, at the end of the day, they all aim to provide their children with an environment conducive to their growth and development.
While political affiliations influence parenting, the shared values and common grounds suggest that parenting, regardless of political ideology, gravitates towards instilling positive qualities in children. Parenthood is indeed a great equalizer.