Summary:
The chapter starts off with contemporary parenting roles. It describes that at the same time that a child is born, a parent is born also. It takes no time for a person to realize that it is time to take on parental roles. As both partners transition into parenthood then they help each other recognize the roles that come with parenting. There are some rewards and difficulties that come with parenting. You may have role conflict which is the frustrations and uncertainties a person experiences when the expectations of two or more roles are incompatible. This happens when job obligations get in the way of child-rearing. Another one is role strain is basically frustration within the role itself. Other difficult things that come with parenting is unrealistic role expectations, decreased authority, increased responsibility, and high parenting standards. You also have ideal motherhood versus realistic motherhood. The same goes with fatherhood also. The myth that mothering comes naturally creates three problems. It assumes that a good mother will be perfect if she follows her instinct. It implies that there is something wrong if a mother doesn't devote 100 percent of her time to child rearing. It also discourages the involvement of other adults. With fathering it takes practice to learn how to become a father. It takes practice to stop a crying baby in the middle of the night, and to change a diaper when the baby is squirming all over the place. Sociologist Kathleen Gerson said that there is three types of fathers; you have Breadwinners, autonomous fathers, and those that involved. The breadwinners usually look toward the mother to take care of the domestic responsibilities of the house. Autonomous fathers are usually the deadbeats who don't provide support. Involved fathers are those of course that are in the children's lives. The involved father know the real meaning of fatherhood.
Parenting also varies with ethnicity and social class. You have different perspectives one what white, black, Asian, or Latino parents may do better or less than other ethnicity. Like for example Latino parents are less likely to read to their children than whites, blacks, and Asians. Social Class plays a role also. Low-SES familes usually struggle with unemployment, poverty, and racism. The infants are not equipped with the resources that some middle class or high class families tend to have.
A big thing when it comes to parenting is how you discipline your children and your parenting style. A parenting style is the general approach to raising your children. You authoritarian parenting which is very demanding, rigid, and punitive. They expect absolute obedience. Permissive parenting, which is very undemanding and at times annoying. Usually infants that are raised in a permissive household are usually immature, and irresponsible. Authoritative parenting is much like authoritarian except for the fact that they are more responsive use more positive reinforcement. Uninvolved parenting is self explanatory. Discipline comes in different forms also. You have verbal punishment which uses yelling and screaming at infants to reinforce them. Then you have corporal punishment which involves hitting he infant along with verbal punishment.
Point of interest:
I found it very shocking that 67% of men between the ages of 25-24 years old still live at home with their parents.
Question:
From my point of interest, I would like to know why this many men of this age is still at home with their parents. What do you think may have caused this boomerang effect?
i believe alot of men now-a-days may not be fully matured or financially stable, so in turn they would return back to their parents house knowing that they have food, shelter and time tog row even though it might in fact stunt their growth in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jay's response. I feel as if a lot of men have the fear of striking out on their own and fear failure in their independent state of living on their own. So until they feel as if they are ready to move on and find someone to support them, just as their parents do, they will continue to live at home to receive the love and care that they're looking for.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very interesting question. I think it may have something to do with how these men were raised and possibly were unable to become self-disciplined to live on their own once they reach adulthood. They probably view their childhood home as a safe place in the world because their parents may have hindered their growth in a sense and these men did not learn to adapt and accept failure from an early age. They may view living at home as security and refuse to take risks and grow to their full potential. It's a very interesting topic and question.
ReplyDeleteBrian Bitner
Though I am currently 22 now, I really have no intention of leaving home until I really have to for further schooling. I would say one main reason is simply the economic reason for it, as this is the primary reason for me. In today's economy, it is incredibly expensive to live on one's own, even with a job, etc. Though I don't necessarily disagree with what anyone else has said, I really would think that economic factors are probably more important than anything else.
ReplyDeleteKarl Wahlen