Unequal Childhoods- Responses to Discussion Questions

Unequal Childhoods- Responses to Discussion Questions

Question 1

The main focus of the book is to identify the impact of parents' social class on their children's life experiences. The two methods of data collection that were used are in depth observation and interviews with middle class including upper-middle class families, working class families and poor families. 12 families (six white, five Black, and one interracial) with children of nine and ten years were observed. The interviews were done with parents, classroom teachers and other school personnel.

Page number: 3 and 8

Question 2

According to Lareau guidelines about child rearing that are followed by all parents no matter their differences makes up the dominant set or cultural repertoires while the different philosophies and practices of child rearing results in a transmission of differential advantages to kids (p. 4-5). Two major cultural repertoires that she discusses in the book are sense of entitlement in the middle class and a sense of constraint in the working and the poor class. Sense of entitlement refers to how children pursue their personal preferences and actively manage interactions in schools. Sense of constraint on the other hand refers to the limitations children feel in interacting with teachers and others. (p. 6)

Question 3

As Lareau points out these two elements can affect the current and future aspects of children's lives. Kids with sense of entitlement are more effective in their interaction in school and in other institutes. They learn the rules of the game early on which can help them in negotiations in future in institutions and these skills can impress people in authority positions (p.6). Kids who feel a sense of constraint on the other hand do not exhibit such behavior and follow the authority or resist it (p. 6). While a sense of entitlement helps ...