In Latino households, have you noticed that boys often receive more recognition and praise for their achievements simply because they’re boys? Meanwhile, girls can be high achievers, yet their accomplishments might not always get the same spotlight. Is this true in your experience? How did this dynamic play out in your home? Let’s talk about it…
Joshua Blanco Solis: “Good thing I’m not Latino or Hispanic”
Chris Castillo: “Yep.. My 2 brothers were momma’s favorite. But I can’t be selfish because as the baby of 6..I was Daddy’s girl. But yes mom always favored them”
Ram Dls: “The way it is and always will be.”
Angelica Rico: “It’s because: “A son is a son until he finds him a wife. A daughter’s a daughter for the rest of her life” That’s what my mom always said. I try really hard to not have it that way, but I always get called out when my sons come home. It could be because the girls are still here in our house and when the boys come home it’s a huge deal. Boys don’t need moms anymore, they have wives. Girls need their moms forever. I miss mine. As far as achievements, we have always made it clear we expect a lot. So that would have been the pressure of our oldest child. His highest achievement is expected from all the others, regardless if they were a boy or girl.”
Rivera Christian: “That’s only mothers with their sons, you should see dads with their daughters, it’s the same dynamic.”
Rosanna Vasquez: “Sad but true. My mom’s last words to me were “mija, I messed up with you” . She never liked that I identified as Chicana. I can now live my true authentic life. Only 1 son and it’ll be a miracle if he could flip a tortilla.”
Bertha Zepeda: “True – but I also adored my brother so it didn’t matter to me. He was my favorite too.”
Obi Juan Xoyote: “Fact. Of the three of us (two sisters and me), I’m the favorite, so my sisters say.”
Tommy Tingle: “The only boy AND the baby of the family. I would say this is true. I believe my sisters would agree.”
Vee Piñon MacKean: “My mama loved us all very much, and she knew we were efficient, because she taught us. Now my 2 brothers were babied and I could see she was spoiling them a little more. Especially my oldest brother, who was such a scary cat.”
Mary Cavazos Alvarez: “I would say if he’s the only son and the baby of course a mom‘s gonna say that! I myself say that to my son because I only have one and when he does something it’s like wow mijo you did good that’s awesome. Keep up the good job.”
Julie Solorio Macchione: “Lots of boys grew up to be messed up men because of this ingrained favoritism of boys. I’ve seen it with cousins and uncles. It’s a tradition my generation is breaking. Lots of us girls grew up to be strong and independent women who will raise our kids to be the same.”
Angel Blanco: “I loved growing up like this.”
Larisa Miller: “My mother in law still warms up water and prepares his bathwater (because they live in Mexico without running hot water in the house) for her youngest son. He’s close to 40 and still lives at home and she prepares his food and tortillas in fact she has 4 out of her 5 kids living at home with her. My husband was the oldest son but he also is the black sheep of the family but definitely her baby boy is the apple of her eye.”
