How to Disagree with Your Parents if You're a Conservative and They're Liberal

Always show respect to your parents when disagreeing with their political views

If you're conservative politically and socially but your parents hold to liberal views, it's important that you not equate their views with their personal character just because they don't believe the way you do. Instead, show compassion and respect towards them but remain assertive in your views and why you believe a certain way. Also avoid big arguments over minor issues because this could lead to hurt feelings or in some cases, distance between you and your parents.

Instructions

1. Try to understand why your parents hold to certain views. If your father believes that the government should institute more social programs for low-income families, it's probably because he cares about the needs of the less fortunate. Or if your mother believes in stricter gun control laws, it may be because she has friends who lost their child to gun violence.

2. State why you disagree with them. If you don't believe in affirmative action for minorities, mention that you feel this is more harmful to minorities because it teaches them that you don't need to work hard or have dedication in order to attend college or land a good job, and that many people will assume that minorities are in a certain position because of affirmative action.

3. Agree to disagree with them on certain issues. If your father feels that women shouldn't focus primarily on being wives and mothers but have other goals in life, tell him that while it's true that women should have other interests outside of the home, you still believe that the task of a wife and mother is still a honorable occupation and that stay-at-home moms should not be ridiculed for doing so.

References

• How to Handle Political Disagreements in Relationships