Sociology Plus
Childrearing Patterns Definition
Childrearing patterns refer to the variations in the ways in which children are brought up, which are significantly influenced by social class differences. Research has demonstrated that these patterns are not universal but are deeply rooted in socio-economic background, affecting everything from disciplinary approaches to the language used in parental interactions.
Origins and Key Research
The study of social class differences in childrearing was significantly advanced by researchers in the mid-to-late twentieth century. In the 1960s and 1970s, research conducted by John and Elizabeth Newson established that disparities existed between classes regarding parenting practices. Specifically, middle-class mothers tended to adhere more closely to guidance provided by health officials and published reference books, whereas working-class mothers were more likely to rely on advice received from their mothers, sisters, and friends.
Disciplinary Approaches
Differences in social class also manifested in the methods parents employed for discipline. Middle-class parents were observed to apply a more consistent and uniform approach to managing their children’s behaviour. In contrast, working-class mothers exhibited a more arbitrary disciplinary style, frequently shifting between periods of indulgence and strictness.
Linguistic Control
The work of Oleh Bernstein further illuminated the role of language in these class distinctions. Bernstein identified that middle-class mothers were more likely than their working-class counterparts to utilise language as a mechanism for controlling their children’s behaviour and providing justifications for their decisions. Bernstein theorised that this specific use of language was instrumental in how middle-class children learned to master the elaborated social code.