chapter 6 Flashcards
structural antinalism
The structural or societal condition in which the bearing and raising of children is discouraged either overtly or covertly in society
In as much as values, legislation and workplace policies and culture are unfriendly to children and disastrous for committed parents
structural antinalism examples
- Workplace Infexibility
- Goals of power and profit
- Implications for commitment to job and work hours
- Lack of Parental Supports
- Parenting leave
- Childcare
- Approach to the Parenting Role:
- Lack of training
- Reduced “anticipatory socialization”
- Reduced rewards
the proces of socialization
Socialization is the process of passing on a culture’s ways of thinking and acting.
While this usually occurs during childhood, the process continues through adulthood.
This learning can occur through explicit instruction, through the assumptions by which parents and others treat children and adults, and through observation of other people’s behaviour.
defining children
How we socialize children reflects what we expect of them and the value we place on them
In Canada’s early years, children were often employed
20th century saw arrival of the economically worthless but emotionally priceless child, who was expected to provide emotional satisfaction for the parents
Childhood came to be regarded as a special time, and was increasingly differentiated from adulthood
Socialization Smorgasbord (of children)
Individual (characteristics and choices)
Parents
Wider family (siblings and extended family)
Child care providers
School
Peers
Media
parents as the first socializers
The number, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, and age of a child’s parent-figures help to shape the child
Children who grow up in two-parent families, one-parent families, and stepfamilies have different socializing experiences
In general, the interaction within families has a greater impact than does family structure
role of mothers and fathers
Traditionally asymmetrical roles
There is increased participation by fathers
Mothers still assume primary responsibility for child rearing
Mothers still “psychological” parent
Concept of “equal parenting” is statistically a myth
Historically men not socialized for “equal parenting”
parenting styles
Authoritarian - high demqands, low responsiveness (littleto no input from child)
Permissive/Laissez-faire - low demand high responsiveness - (kids make own limits)
Authoritative - high on demands and responsivenes - (rules discussed)
/Democratic
Uninvolved
-low on demand and responsiveness. (cold, distant and possibly hostile)
parenting methods
Spanking is less effective in changing children’s behaviour than nonviolent forms of discipline
Conflict between parents increases risk that children will have adjustment problems
Parents’ use of destructive tactics—yelling, name-calling, threatening, withdrawal—distresses children
Children may feel more threatened by disagreements and are more likely to blame themselves for their parents’ problems than those whose parents use more constructive tactics
siblings
Most children have at least one sibling
2011: 45% of families with just one child living at home, 38% with two, 16% more than three
Sibling relationships are similar to peer relationships in that they are more egalitarian than that between parents and children
Unlike peer relationships, the sibling relationship is ascribed; that is, it is not optional
Number of siblings, their age, and their sex affect the socialization of a child
birth order
Significant differences between firstborn and later-born children in outcomes such as educational achievement and income
Firstborn in family is typically advantaged; later-born children receive less quality time with parents
Only children have many of the characteristics of firstborns with siblings
childcare
Young children in full-time childcare typically spend nine hours a day, 250 days a year, away from their parents
Nearly half of Canadian children cared for by non-relatives received informal home care
The number of children in daycare centres has increased, especially in Quebec
Children in high-quality care are readier for school and have better social skills
Especially true for children of mothers with low levels of education
peers
Parents have more power over a child’s peers when children are young
This control grows less as children become older
The neighbourhood parents choose to live in, and degree to which they supervise children helps shape child’s peer networks
As children become older, the peer group assumes greater importance
When children are rejected or ridiculed by peers, they may become isolated or antisocial
Often, parents think of the peer relationship as negative and blame friends for being bad influences
Peers can make up for some of a child’s negative experiences at home
the media
The media are important socializing agents
Television, video games, computers, and other technologies, such as cell phones and hand-held Internet devices
Many young people devote more time to media than to any other activity except sleep
Explosion of social networking sites are both increasing connections among people and reducing privacy
-Parents and older siblings can help children learn from and about media through their explanations and comments
Unfortunately, many parents do not make the time to do this or do not know how
See problems associated with media use (television etc.) in text
