04 Sep 09 Wives programmed not to like mother-in-laws

Now, the reason behind the age-old problem of feuding between mothers-in-law and their son’s wife has been answered – wives are programmed to dislike their partner’s mum.

In a new book just arrived in Australia, Dr Terri Apter suggested that even if a wife or girlfriend wanted to like her in-law, she already had an expectation they wouldn’t get along.

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Dr Terri Apter said wives programmed not to like mother-in-laws

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“This mutual unease may have less to do with actual attitudes and far more to do with persistent female stereotypes that few of us manage to shake off completely,” she said.

“Both mother and wife are struggling to achieve the same position in the family – primary woman.”

Putting an end to the family feuds can be easy if husbands defined each woman’s role.

“I think as mothers-in-law stay in the work force longer (and) have a life of their own they are not so interested in worrying about their son’s life,”

University of South Australia Professor Alison Mackinnon said.

Tags: alison mackinnon, Daughter-in-Law, dinner tables, domestic violence, expectation, family feuds, family gatherings, female stereotypes, girlfriend, grounds for divorce, mother and wife, mother-in-law, mothers in law, news story, professor alison, terri apter, unease, university of south australia, Women's Rights