news

How can you get your parents to respect your opinions?

Time to share some wisdom with someone who needs it.

She writes….

My name is Jess, I’m 18 and I am currently completing my first year of university. I was hoping that you and you’re readers may be able to help me. I don’t mean to sound like a typical teen complaining about her parents, It’s just that I feel they do not respect me when it comes to my views and beliefs.

So, basically, I believe in gay rights, same-sex marriage and am totally against racism. My parents are sexist, homophobic and racist. I’ve given up trying to change their minds when it comes to these issues, despite years and years of trying and countless arguments. I can’t even DISCUSS my views with them because when my dad doesn’t like what he hears, he yells over the top of me, telling me to shut up. (Yep, I know what you’re thinking. Real mature huh?)

All I want from them is not to laugh and sneer at me and tease me about what I believe and to stop with the racial and discriminatory slurs when watching TV and in public. An example of this would be seeing Robbie and Dan on ‘Australia’s perfect couple’. My dad was quick to show his disgust, saying “What’s wrong with these people?” and promptly changing the channel. Sure, disagree. But don’t tell me that “I’m fucked in the head” and that “there must be something wrong with me” just because you don’t think the same as me. My dad told me that he can’t respect my opinions if they are “stupid and trivial”, yet he expects me to sit there and just accept that he and my mum call our Muslim neighbours “ninja’s”, “scarf-heads” and “nappy-heads”. It’s not right. They disgust me.

My dad recently told me that when he sees me veering off onto the wrong path (my views), he can’t help but want to put me on the right one (his views). But how does he know which path IS the right one?

So…What should I do? Do I have a reasonable request here, or am I being ridiculous in asking my parents to respect my opinions.