Lareau (Unequal) Reading and Discussion Qs PDF

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Summary and reflection:Lareau...

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“Unequal Childhoods,” by Annette Lareau Note: This reading is taken from Annette Lareau’s book, Unequal Childhoods, published in 2003. In this book, she examined the parenting styles of different families, focusing on differences between lower-income, working-class families, and upper-income, middle-class families. She believes that the parenting styles of both working-class and middle-class families have their pros and cons, but that the parenting style of middle-class families helps their children succeed in school and later in the world of professional work. Please use the author’s sub-headers to help focus and guide your reading. 1) Lareau calls the parenting style of middle-class families “concerted cultivation.” What is concerted cultivation? How is it related to feelings of “entitlement” among middle-class children? Concerted cultivation is what the middle class kids get. It is a way of raising including organized acitivities and reasoning arguments. These activities give a child a sense of entitlement also, the fact a kid can talk back, argue about a decision, or demand a reason, makes a child feel assertive and entitles to certain things in life. 2) Lareau calls the parenting style of working-class families “the logic of natural growth.” What is the logic of natural growth? How is it related to feelings of “constraint” among working-class children? Th elogic of natural growth is what the poor kids get, usually they have less organized ativity, more free time, and more directives. This free time is a way ofor them to learn on their own instead of with a parent leading them. Also, whn they are told to do something, they do so quietly and immediately without asking questions. This makes them feel constrained because they have no room to make demands, and the extra leisure time leads to a lack of entitlement for better things in life. 3) Lareau finds that working- and middle-class families organize their daily life differently. Explain. Middle class has many organized acitivities run by adults. It is busy and tiring, with conflicting schedules. The working class has no organized acitivites, and if they do its because the kid involved themselves in them. They are allowed free time to associate with family and friends and learn the rules of the streets. They aren’t as tired or organized. 4) Lareau finds that working- and middle-class families differ in terms of their language use. Explain. Middle class encourages learning new words, developing reasoning skills and argument skills. Children debate their parents answers and come up with negotiations leading to better language

skills. Language is not as important in working class. Commands are short and meant to be obeyed. Sometimes only one word. Even if the task is time consuming children obey within the first few times of being asked and do not put up a fight. Also they do not focus on communication or learning new words and skills. Instead they get qualities of obedience. 5) Lareau finds that working- and middle-class families differ in terms of how their children interact with teachers, doctors, etc. (“intervention in institutions”). Explain. Middle classs feel entitled so they intervene when they think a child is not getting what they deserve. They have the skills to reason with others and they want to be involved in such a way that furthers their childs life skills, which is kinda why they have them in organized activites in the first plce. However, working class would rather trust what a school or teacher tells them and take the advice of experts than actually internvene for their kid. Although they do care, they feel stumped by the problems of intervention and so simply agree to do what they are told and help in little ways instead of demanding the very best....