Critical Eye
What does Kingston assert and why does Lareau seek to challenge their theory?
Kingston asserts that "class distinguishes neither distinctive parenting styles or distinctive involvement of kids in specific behaviors" (pg. 632).
Lareau disagrees with Kingston's position because she believes that social class does create distinctive parenting styles. She does case studies on various families to prove her point.
Lareau explains that she seeks to "...demonstrate that parents differ by class in the ways that they define their own roles in their children's lives as well as in how they perceive the nature of childhood" (pg. 633).
Explain what Laureau finds and how this is relative to sociology.
Roles In Their Child's Lives:
*middle class: providers as well as having the resources to invest in their children's talents and develop them more fully
* working-class: providers who gave their children more independence to do what they wanted
Nature of Childhood:
*working class: time to be relaxed before financial struggles set in as they grow older
* middle class: time for play, but also the change to grow and develop into a well-rounded person
What is a common outlook of middle class families of both races?
concerted cultivation: "They enroll their children in numerous age-specific organized activities that dominate family life and create enormous labor, particularly for mothers" (pg. 633).
Organization
Alexander's parents have the means to provide him with many forms of enrichment; he is often busy with many extracurricular activities. His mother was a proponent on having him learn about the things that she didn't, as she believes it would provide him with better opportunities.
Organization
Harold's schedule revolved around what was available to him. If he had a basketball, he played basketball. If not, him and his friends found something else to do. He also had family obligations. For instance, he spent a lot of time with his extended family, as they were often over his house. His mother also had to organize things like showering time for each child, and so they had to go wash up when she told them to.
What does Lareau believe the disadvantage of quantitative studies are?
Lareau believes that quantitative studies on children's activities provide limited ideas about how these activities relate to social advantage (pg. 633).
Let's talk about the table on page 637. Compare and contrast what is listed for each boy.
Alexander: a more defined schedule, less TV, less neighborhood friends and more school friends
Harold: less structured schedule, more TV time, more neighborhood friends
What is a common outlook for working class families, regardless of race?
accomplishment of natural growth: "these parents believe that as long as they provide love, food, and safety, their children will grow and thrive. They do not focus on developing their children's special talents" (pg. 633).
Use of Language
Alexander's parents had the time and understanding of the importance of enriching the conversations they had with their son in order to help him become a more thoughtful speaker. They were educated and were able to teach their son an elevated language of vocabulary.
Use of Language
Harold learned how to greet many types of people, since he encountered many people on a daily basis. His mother did converse with him, but her conversations did not enrich Harold's speaking skills or vocabulary.
Why did Lareau choose to focus on Alexander and Harold in particular?
1. There is often a limited number of reports on middle-class African American people.
2. Lareau believes that this study will further support her claim that it is class that has more to do with parenting styles than anything else.
(pg. 635)
"In an historical moment when the dominant society privileges active, informed, assertive clients of health and educational services, the strategies employed by children and parents are not equally effective across classes" (pg. 634).
Middle class parents often teach their children a sense of entitlement when dealing with professionals in public, and so they are at advantage because they are assertive.
What THREE aspects are crucial to family life and why?
1. the organization of daily life
2. the use of language
3. social connections
* Lareau explains that 1 & 2 are most important because organization and language must be used to engage in a specific child rearing approach*
(pg. 635)
Connections
Alexander spends more time focusing on his extracurriculars, and less time with peers his age. He has a large family who his parents try to have him interact with when possible.
Connections
People living in complexes like Harold have many people around them, so they learn to connect with many types of people (children, adults, neighbors, etc...). He spent a lot of time with family. He was uncomfortable around professionals, such as his doctor and school personnel.
What is Lareau's final conclusion on her study of family?
"Thus, children rearing strategies are influenced by more than parents' education. It is the interweaving of life experiences and resources, including parent;s economic resources, occupational conditions, and educational backgrounds" (pg. 646).
"Still, the structural location of families did not fully determine their childrearing practices. The agency of actors and the indeterminacy of social life are inevitable" (pg. 646).
Here, Lareau is acknowledging that these factors are not going to be clear cut determinants for how a child turns out. She notes that even if a family dynamic is structured one way, they are variable to change based on actions and social life unique to that individual child.
What is a common outlook for middle class families regarding use of language?
Conversation is aimed at "[promoting] reasoning and negotiation," and providing the "opportunity to develop and practice verbal skills, including how to summarize, clarify, and amplify information" (pgs. 637-638).
Parents of middle class families often teach their children how to interact with professionals (pg. 642).
To what extent does Alexander FIT IN with the article's description of middle class families?
1. organization: his parents have the means to provide him with many forms of enrichment; he is often busy with many extracurricular activities.
2. use of language: Alexander's parents had the time and understanding of the importance of enriching the conversations they had with their son in order to help him become a more thoughtful speaker. They were educated and were able to teach their son an elevated language of vocabulary.
3. social connections: Like many other middle class families, Alexander's mother taught Alexander how to assume the role of a consumer, encouraging him to talk to his doctor. This helps create a sense of entitlement, which in realistic parameters, helps a person become assertive.
To what extent does Harold FIT IN with the article's description of working-class families?
1. Organization: Harold's schedule revolved around what was available to him. If he had a basketball, he played basketball. If not, him and his friends found something else to do.
2. Socialization: People living in complexes like Harold have many people around them, so they learn to connect with many types of people (children, adults, neighbors, etc...)
3. Use of Language: Harold's mother took interest in her children, but unlike Alexander's mother, she did not hold conversations with her son that greatly enriched his speech skills or vocabulary.
Name the FOUR issues Lareau has with past sociological studies on family as a structure:
1. studies are narrowly focused (they only look at one factor at a time).
2. much of the empirical work is descriptive (they do not add up to one larger pattern).
3. researchers have not satisfactorily explained how these patterns are produced.
4. Not much is known about how closely children adopt and enact the beliefs of their parents.
(pgs. 632-633)
Lareau said that there is an unclear understanding of how much children take the beliefs of their parents. Read this quote, and let's discuss the extent to which children are influenced by their parent's behaviors and beliefs:
"Other working-class and poor parents also appeared baffled, intimidated, and subdued in parent-teacher conferences...Working-class and poor children seemed aware of their parents' frustration and witnessed their powerlessness" (pg. 644).
Possible Answer:
Children do pick up on how their parents react to certain situations and seeing how it might make their parents feel, they behave in line with their parent's response.
Compare and contrast how different classes interact in public. Use examples from the text!
Possible answers:
* we saw that since Alexander's mother wanted him to be social and comfortable with the doctor, he did so. We saw that since Harold's mother was uncomfortable at the doctor's, so was Harold.
* we saw that Alexander associated himself more with professionals and took on the role of client. However, he has less interaction with children his age. On the other hand, Harold had plenty of friends and people to interact with in the housing complex.
To what extent does Alexander STAND OUT from the article's description of middle class families?
1. Connections: Alexander had a relatively small circle of friends that he played with. Since middle class children usually have more confidence, they have the potential to surround themselves with more friends.
2. TV Allowance: this article was written in 2002; today it is nearly impossible for parents to keep their kids away from the TV and electronics, especially middle class families who have all of these gadgets at home.
To what extent does Harold STAND OUT from the article's description of working-class families? Why do think that? (it is also ok to say that you don't think he stood out and explain why)
depends on student response