Perception of Parent-Child Relationship:A Critical Analysis of Gender Differences

The present study investigated gender differences in the perception of teenage sons and daughters regarding relationship with their parents. Families for the present study were selected from four zones of Ludhiana city. Only those adolescents (13-19 years of age) were selected who belonged to nuclear and upper- middle class families, where both working parents were at least graduate. The total sample comprised of 400 respondents (100 of each fathers, mothers, sons and daughters). A self structured checklist was used to identify families that fulfilled the selection criteria. Relationship of teenage sons and daughters with their parents was assessed by using Parent child relationships scale by Rao (2001). Each selected adolescent was examined separately for his/her relationship with father and mother across three levels often dimensions of parenting. The results revealed that sons perceived their fathers significantly more in different in attitude, more physically punishing whereas mothers were perceived as more demanding in nature. Daughters perceived their fathers to less punishing and mothers to more symbolically rewarding. The overall results showed significant differences in the perception of sons and daughters regarding relationship with their parents that in turn indicates that family relationships are perceived differently by sons and daughters.