“Because He’s My Baby”: The Role of Birth Order in How Mothers Explain Favoritism Toward Adult Children

Abstract

Last-born adult children are disproportionately likely to be their mothers’ “favored child.” Although past research shows that birth order shapes children’s likelihood of being favored, little is known about whether or how it shapes the reasons a child is favored. Using qualitative interview data from 233 older mothers, we examine how mothers’ explanations for favoring an adult child are shaped by their favored child’s birth order. Findings show that last-born children were most commonly favored due to mothers’ perceptions of their empathetic understanding. First-born children were most commonly favored for social–structural and experiential similarities. Middle-borns were most commonly favored because mothers perceived them to need their support more. This article contributes to family sociology by showing that birth order shapes not only the likelihood, but also the reasons for later-life maternal favoritism. Mothers’ perceptions of last-borns as more understanding and empathetic help explain their advantage in securing their mothers’ favor.