Social proximity in Swedish mother-daughter and mother-son interactions in infancy

This study investigated free play interactions between 20 Swedish mothers and their infants (11 boys and nine girls) at 9 and 14 months of age. Higher degrees of social proximity within mother-daughters dyads were found, as compared to mother-son dyads. Mothers with daughters also displayed more physical contact at 9 months and scored higher on maternal sensitivity at 14 months, as compared to mothers of boys. Higher degrees of social promixity (combined infant and mother scores) were found at 14 months of age, as compared to 9 months. These findings suggest that despite the high level of gender equality promoted in Swedish society, Swedish mothers treat girls differently from boys.