Not in my family.

My son has autism and ADHD, so I have to be very direct in my communication, otherwise he won't pick up cues and hints. But when he realizes that someone is suffering, he is much more empathetic than my daughter, who is neurotypical. She picks up on cues and reads between the lines, and offers support without being asked - but she has a short bandwidth and there's only so much she can give. I am happy with both of them. They are both good-natured and willing to help out.

I think there are more daughters who have either a really good or a really bad relationship with their mother. More extreme so to say. Not necessarily empathetic. A lot of women don't have good relationships with their moms, but are still expected to do this or that. Sons have less expectations put on them by parents.

I don’t think they do. I think their social pressure on women to demonstrate more obvious and traditionally empathetic behavior. It doesn’t mean they actually feel that way.

I have a daughter and son, they’re both unempathetic right now because they’re teenagers.

Anonymous wrote:My brother is awesome in this aspect with my mom. My kids are younger and still in school and multiple activities. His kids are all launched. He helps out on a regular basis and just goes and meets with her to do various activities.

My DH is very empathetic towards his mom, probably many folds than any of his sisters. However, in general, daughters seem to have higher empathy levels.

Anonymous wrote:As a whole, I think it's the same thing that makes women more likely to be caretakers and maternal. I also think it has to do with the way some women put others before themselves whereas men put themselves first. It's not necessarily that the men aren't empathetic, but they put themselves first so they come across that way.

Makes some sense.

Anonymous wrote:What do you consider empathy, OP?

Let's say when you read a post here, you can put yourself in poster's shoes and come up with a kind and helpful response, instead of trying to play smart and argue for the sake of argument.

My brother is awesome in this aspect with my mom. My kids are younger and still in school and multiple activities. His kids are all launched. He helps out on a regular basis and just goes and meets with her to do various activities.

What do you consider empathy, OP?

It's the opposite in my family. My mom was an emotionally manipulative abusive parent. While I understand she has mental health issues and that's why she is the way she is, I'm not subjecting myself or my family to that. My brother has a lot more empathy for her and puts up with her continued behavior. I put myself first and he put her first.

As a whole, I think it's the same thing that makes women more likely to be caretakers and maternal. I also think it has to do with the way some women put others before themselves whereas men put themselves first. It's not necessarily that the men aren't empathetic, but they put themselves first so they come across that way.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you feel like you deserve empathy?

Unless someone is abusive or something like that, all people deserve empathy. And thinking it's the other way -that you have to prove like you deserve it- is something fundamentally wrong with this country.

+1

Having empathy doesn't necessarily mean you act different towards someone. You can have empathy and still hold people to high standards, set boundaries, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Why do you feel like you deserve empathy?

Unless someone is abusive or something like that, all people deserve empathy. And thinking it's the other way -that you have to prove like you deserve it- is something fundamentally wrong with this country.

Why do you feel like you deserve empathy?

Don't all women have more empathy in general than men do? About everything.
We're also conditioned to be caretakers, of course. Are you new to human beings?

Why more daughters tend to have higher empathy towards their parents than sons?