Reply #25: Your experiences ring true to me

[senseandsensibility]

I've experienced the same in both my professional and personal lives. It is common in all cultures, as far as I can see, to coddle boys. I'm white and it certainly happened in my family. But I've seen it in other races and cultures as well. The boy is favored and pampered, and less is asked of him than of his sisters. The boy never benefits from this. It is common enough across the spectrum that I am sure other DUers are familiar with it. Of course I'm well aware that ALL boys are not treated like this. My husband, for example, was raised very strictly with very high standards. Nevertheless, in my experience, it happens enough to help explain the statistics in the OP.