Social Class and Parents in Public and Private Families: An Introduction by Andrew J. Cherlin

In his textbook, Public and Private Families: An Introduction, Andrew J. Cherlin

discusses the differences across social classes in how parents raise children. Social

class is an ordering of all persons in a society according to their degrees of economic

resources, prestige, and privilege. All sociologists agree that income and wealth are

important factors in determining social class. The social class consists of a four class

model: upper-class, middle-class, working-class, and lower-class. In the discussion of

social class and child rearing, Cherlin focuses on the middle, working, and lower

classes. The middle-class have fixed, pleasant incomes and live well above the

subsistence level, while the working-class have incomes that provides for the minimum

needs to live a modest lifestyle. The lower-class families’ reliability to provide for a

decent life is in question because they work regularly at low paying jobs or are

frequently unemployed (2012:120-124). This paper will discuss sociologist Annette

Lareau’s study of child rearing and how generally the middle-class families use a

concerted cultivation approach, whereas the working and lower classes use an

accomplishment of natural growth approach.

When middle-class and working-class parents are asked about what

characteristics children should have, their choices follow with their occupational

positions. Middle-class parents are more likely to select independence, curiosity, and

responsibility, whereas working-class parents are more likely to select obedience to

authority, conformity, and good manners. Blue-collar jobs, usually worked by the

working-class require obedience and conformity, contrastingly a successful manager in

the middle-cla...

... middle of paper ...

...ation approach to actively enhance

children’s talents, opinions, and skills. Working and lower-class families take the

accomplishment of natural growth approach to focus on providing love and allowing the

child to grow on their own. The result is that middle class children have advantages in

school and later in the job market. They are more confident with authority figures such

as teachers; they are more vocal and independent. The child rearing of the middle class

children gives them the sense that they are entitled to a rewarding daily life. The

working and lower class children are less likely to speak up for themselves and

challenge authority. Based on their child rearing, they have a sense that their

opportunities are restricted. Thus, the social class that one grows up in, tremendously

impacts their dealings with school, authority, and work.