Are mothers scapegoated because it's easier for men to confront their mother rather than their father?

I think probably they have more interaction with their mothers so they are an easier target.

As an American woman, I remember that my father scared me by his distant and unemotional behavior and stance.

So I always talked to my mother, who had none of the power in the family, which I was too young to understand. A therapist finally helpe me sort through this when I was in my late 50’s.

I yell right back at my dad if he yells at me. I am more afraid of my mother.

I am not sure that I accept your premise as absolute. If there are problems I think it is because men do not communicate that well verbally, especially with their fathers.

@Marina I think that is a very valid observation.

In many patriarchal societies, women have been blamed by men for men’s weaknesses but the modern blamemaster was Sigmund Freud.

Freud’s basic theory was that all women were naturally unstable, hysterical and jealous of superior men. We supposedly act irrationally because of penis envy, Because of close intimate with his mother he develops an oral fixation as an infant that influences him throughout life. Later boys go through an oedipal fixation through intimate contact like bathing, diaper changing and holding. He falls in love with his mother and sees Dad as his rival. A loving mother is subconsciously trying to destroy his manhood because of this jealously/ So if he is gay, wets his bed, becomes a serial killer, it’s because his heart belongs to Mommy.

Of course we now know Freud was talking out his ass and it was the age old problem he was trying to explain. He could not understand the women in his life or deal with his reactions to them so it must be their fault. Always blame the woman.

@galileogirl you’d be surprised at how many people still buy into his ideas.

If he can blame me, I can blame him—- =P

@galileogirl oh definitely, lol.