The unfairer sex: Doting mothers spend more money on their daughters than they do on their sons

Mothers spend £126 more on clothes for daughters

Over 18 years, total of £24,084 spent on a girl’s wardrobe compared to just £21,811 for boys

There must be a reason why girls grow up to love shopping and men can't bare a trip to the local shopping mall.

And that reason has been revealed by new research that found that mothers will splash out more than £1,338 on new clothes, accessories and school uniform for their little girls - £126 more than they do on their sons.

The study found that parents will splurge £212 on outfits for their daughter to wear on special occasions and just £170 on their sons, a hint at perhaps why girls love getting dressed up for a big event.

Mothers admit spending more on their daughters because the clothes are cuter

New tops, trousers and underwear see a further £622 spent on daughters while just £568 is spent on the same items for boys each year.

Over the course of 18 years, that amounts to a total of £24,084 spent on a girl’s wardrobe compared to just £21,811 on clothes and shoes for boys.

A spokesman for F&F at Tesco, which commissioned the research, said: 'Most parents would like to think they spend an equal amount on their sons and daughters.

'But it seems that parents find the girlie dresses harder to resist than boyish tops and jeans - giving girls’ wardrobes the edge over their brothers.

Over the course of 18 years mothers spend a total of £24,084 on a girl¿s wardrobe compared to just £1,811 on clothes and shoes for boys

'Even with school uniforms, parents end up spending more on their daughters than their sons.

'Although while it seems parents prefer shopping for their daughters, the difference in cost could be down to them buying their sons cheaper clothes - as they are most likely to lose or break things.

'Most parents with boys will have had to replace lost school jumpers or worn out trousers, but I’m not sure as many mums of little girls will have the same problem.'

Almost half of those who have a daughter said they love shopping for girl's new clothes

And even pyjamas, slippers and dressing gowns see those with girls part with more cash - £162 a year compared to just £141 for boys nightwear.

Researchers also found that more than a third of parents who have both a son and a daughter admit that they are more likely to spend the most on their little girl’s clothes.

Almost half of those who have a daughter said they love shopping for girl’s new clothes, with 41 per cent believing they spend more on them because the clothes are cuter than outfits for boys.

Four in ten parents put the higher cost down to girls being easier to shop for while 37 per cent say it is just because there is more choice for young ladies.

TOTAL SPENT ON SONS

New tops / jumpers £216.36 Trousers / jeans £213.24

Shoes £221.76 Night wear £140.88

Special occasion outfits £170.04

Underwear / Socks £138.48

School / sports kit (per year) £111

AND DAUGHTERS..

New tops / jumpers £235.44 Trousers / jeans £221.52 Shoes £224.52 Night wear £161.76 Special occasion outfits £211.56 Underwear / Socks £164.76 School / sports kit (per year) £118.45



