Opinion: Parents shape political ideology of children to a fault

By Julia Maxman ’16

Kids take a lot from their parents. Their eye color, skin tone, height and other characteristics that shape children. Yet, another factor that many children will assume from their parents is political identity. If parents are more conservative, odds are their child will follow in their footsteps. Perhaps if someone falls more to the left on the political spectrum, their kids will too, fall in that position.

According to a Gallup study in 2005, 7 out of 10 teens say that their social and political ideology is similar to their parents.

“It makes sense that political socialization stems most from family.” AP Government and Politics teacher Ms. Vaknin said. It is just a natural thing that when teaching values, parents instill political beliefs as well.”

Considering how significant parents are in their life as they are maturing, this makes alot of sense.

Yet, this should not be the only factor that weighs in on the makeup of one’s opinions in politics. It is one thing if some ideas stem from childhood, but political values should come from experience as well.

While there is nothing wrong with maintaining instilled political beliefs, or having differing views from parents, if the only premise for an argument is “because that is what my parents told me,” or “I just disagree with my parents,” then that it simply a carbon copy of what has been fed to a child by means of the people who raised them, or an ignorant child who is using a political platform to escape nagging parents.

Aside from students taking their political ideology from their parents, other factors include their gender, age, religion, region and socioeconomic status, which all play an important role in determining political stances. As college and the next chapters of life will begins, our generation may be met with new ideas shaping their outlooks.

So while now, it may be easy to spit out what our parents tell us, it is unnecessary to have such stubborn political stances.

“Whenever I am talking to my parents, like at a family dinner, we usually talk about current events and politics, so I am able to see their views,” senior Halle Mason said.

Along with those who are close political matches to their parents, there are other people in our generation who take the opposite view of their parents simply as a curious form of rebellion.

“My parents have strong political views they always try to impress on me,“ sophomore Alexa Artale said. “Because they pushed me so hard to follow in their political views, I have different beliefs.”

It is a serious problem for those who blindly take their parents opinions. However, the same problem arises for people who let what their parents try to instill in the go in one ear and out the other.

For those of you who find it second nature to immediately assume what your parents have told you in the past or drift from their constant guidance: Considering that politics shape the way our country is run and is the premise of everyday life, it is too important to make political socialization a family matter. So the next time you begin to ponder your political beliefs, before you automatically think of your parents, do some research and create your own beliefs that you can support. After all, when you finally step into the voting booth, your parents won’t be there to push the button.