British parenting is often associated with the phrase “children should be seen and not heard.” However, a study suggests that modern mothers and fathers in the UK are increasingly valuing different qualities in their children.
According to a study of 24 countries, Britons now place less importance on instilling obedience in children compared to other countries. Instead, they prioritize qualities such as hard work, independence, and imagination.
In terms of obedience and responsibility, Britons ranked 20th and 23rd respectively. They also ranked low for prioritizing thrift, saving money, and adherence to religion. On the other hand, the UK scored high for teaching children not to be selfish, cultivating imagination, and showing good manners.
Prof Bobby Duffy, director of the Policy Institute at King’s College London, who led the study, believes that these findings reflect a cultural shift in the UK and other wealthy countries. The focus has moved from traditional values of obedience and security to self-expression and openness to new ideas.
Duffy suggests that the emphasis on hard work may be due to the increasing importance of academic success in a competitive job market.
Nigeria, Mexico, and Egypt topped the list for prioritizing obedience, while Japan, China, South Korea, and Sweden ranked lower than the UK. South Korea, Norway, Japan, and Sweden placed higher importance on imagination than the UK, while Indonesia and Egypt scored the lowest. The US ranked lowest for prioritizing good manners.
Since 1990, the UK has seen a significant increase in valuing imagination (18% to 37%) and hard work (29% to 48%). Additionally, perseverance and independence both saw a 10 percentage point increase. However, the importance placed on obedience has decreased from 50% in 1998 to just 11% today.
While all generations value obedience less than in the past, younger generations, such as Gen Z, care even less about good manners and not being selfish.
Interestingly, the UK also ranks low for the belief that having children is a social duty, with only 11% of people holding this view. This figure is lower only in the US and Sweden. In contrast, the Philippines, Nigeria, and Indonesia show a much higher belief in childbearing as a social duty.
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