Are soccer moms better parents?

PositionLife In America - Differences in middle class and working class parenting values - Brief Article

For most parents, life is a dizzying balancing act of housework, kids' functions, and career. Yet, as Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa., sociology professor Annette Lareau discloses in Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race and Family Life, the amount of time and interest parents devote to many of their children's activities varies greatly according to social class.

"Class does make a difference in the lives and futures of American children," claims Lareau, who groups parents into two categories. "Middle-class parents, whether black or white, engage in a process of 'concerted cultivation' designed to draw out children's talents and skills. Working-class and poor families rely on 'the accomplishment of...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT