Mike Domitrz explains how parents shape their kids' relationship standards through language. Telling daughters "all guys are trouble" lowers their expectations and makes them accept bad partners. Telling sons women are "manipulative" primes them to tolerate those traits.
Mom or dad said to me, all guys are trouble. So what's the problem with him being trouble? That's what I have to be in if I want to be with a guy. Look at the standard mom and dad just set. If all guys are trouble and I still want to be with guys, I got to put up with trouble. Versus the parent who said, wow, there's so many great guys out there. Why would you want to pick one of the few jerks? What does that do? You set the standard high and your kids start noticing all the good people out there because that's what you just talked about. There's so many good people. And so I don't also do the opposite. I don't say women are manipulative and controlling because parents do that often to sons. He's going to be with manipulative and controlling probably. We've set the standard.
