Invisible Inequality By A. Bourdieu's Invisible Inequaries

There are two approach of Childrearing in different social classes include, concerted cultivation and the accomplishment of natural growth. Middle class parents emphasize of concerted cultivation’s strategy of childrearing. On the other hand, working class and poor family parents emphasize of natural growth’s strategy of childrearing. In fact, differences of social classes play a significant role in family life and childrearing. In this paper, I would like to discuss the differences in parenting styles that described in the article “Invisible Inequality” by A. Lareau, beside to analysis the incorporation of a system-lifeworld from Habermas’ theory.

There are some concepts of Bourdieu’s thoughts that help to clarify the differences in parenting styles of childrearing in various social classes such as middle class, working class and poor families. First, I would like to illustrate the role of social capital in parenting styles. Social class

In fact, family is the bridge of life world. During the family, children learn how to relate with institutions, whether in school officials, healthcare professionals, and assorted government officials. In middle class, children are more on interaction with institutions. Alexander, as an example, learns from his parents that he has the right to speak up and gathering his thoughts in advance when he has to deal with institutions. He interrupts his doctor’s conversation with his mother and asks question to his doctor. By contract, children in working class or poor families frequently seem cautious and constrained. Harold primarily answers questions from his doctor rather than posing his own. Thus, Alexander is assertive and confident in dealing with professional institution unlike Harold who is reserved. Therefore, children’s ability to deal with professional’s institutions is affected by parenting