parentingstyles2016Soc1110PP

Parenting Styles

Overview of Parenting Styles

• Importance: Parenting styles vary greatly based on social class and culture, influencing how children are raised and the outcomes of their development.

• Key Question: How do family dynamics and social class intersect when considering parenting?

Social Class

Definition

• Social Class: An ordering of individuals in society based on economic resources, prestige, and privileges.

• Influences parenting, behavior of families, and children's upbringing according to class differences.

Life Chances

• Life Chances: Resources and opportunities available to individuals to secure material goods and favorable living conditions.

Social Class Distinctions in Parenting

Impacts on Family Behavior

• Families from lower social classes face significant challenges:

  • Money: Families earning less than $25,000 struggle with housing, education, and economic insecurity, leading to stress and low self-confidence.

  • Time: Less time available to spend with children, leading to less supervision and support, resulting in increased media exposure for children.

Social Capital

• Social Capital: Limited access to resources from adults in their networks affects children's prospects.

  • Income & Wealth: Income refers to earnings from wages, while wealth includes all money and material possessions an individual owns.

Family and Community Strengths

Family Strengths

• Key characteristics of strong families include:

  • Appreciation and affection

  • Commitment to one another

  • Positive communication

  • Spending enjoyable time together

  • Spiritual or religious involvement

  • Managing stress effectively

Community Strengths

• Vital for supporting families:

  • Supportive environments

  • Effective educational systems

  • Assistance programs for families in need

  • Safe and healthful surroundings

Cultural Strengths

• Rich cultural heritage contributes to family strength, including:

  • Shared cultural meanings

  • Political and economic stability

  • Understanding of global culture

Inequality in Parenting

Family Inequality Indicators

• Indicators of family class inequality include:

  • Parental Level of Education

  • Income

  • Engagement with children

  • At-home processes

  • Learning adoption by children from home practices.

Insights from Lareau (2011)

• Social class differences significantly influence parenting styles.

Differing Parenting Approaches

Middle Class vs. Working Class

• Middle Class Parenting:

  • Practice: Concerted cultivation, leading to an emerging sense of entitlement in children.

• Working Class & Poor Parenting:

  • Practice: Accomplishment of natural growth, resulting in a sense of constraint in children.

Parenting Styles Overview

• Parents' definitions of roles and childhood differ by social class, affecting childrearing approaches.

Key Dimensions of Parenting Styles

Dimensions Identified

1. Disciplinary Strategies: Approaches vary significantly.

2. Warmth and Nurturance: Emotional support provided to children.

3. Communication Styles: Nature of dialogue between parents and children.

4. Expectations of Maturity and Control: Different levels of independence expected from children.

Specific Parenting Styles

Authoritarian Parenting

• Characteristics:

  • High demands with low responsiveness.

  • Children expected to follow rules without explanation.

  • Leads to obedient but less happy children.

Authoritative Parenting

• Characteristics:

  • High demands with high responsiveness.

  • Encourages dialogue and reasoning; more nurturing than punitive.

  • Results in children who are capable, happy, and successful.

Permissive Parenting

• Characteristics:

  • Low demands and high responsiveness.

  • Few rules, minimal discipline, and avoidance of confrontation.

  • Tends to yield lower self-regulation in children.

Uninvolved Parenting

• Characteristics:

  • Low demands and low responsiveness.

  • Little communication; can lead to neglectful situations.

  • Typically results in the lowest performance across all domains.

Impact of Parenting Styles on Children's Development

• Authoritarian: Obedient children but lower happiness and self-esteem.

• Authoritative: Happy and successful children.

• Permissive: Children struggle with authority and self-regulation.

• Uninvolved: Children exhibit low self-control and self-esteem.