- Paperback: 416 pages
- Publisher: University of California Press (2 Sep 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0520239504
- ISBN-13: 978-0520239500
- Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 15 x 2.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 587,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
Unequal Childhoods
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Product Description
Review
"Uneqal Childhoods is as exciting to read as it is depressing in its implications." (Four stars)--"The Scotsman"
Product Description
Class does make a difference in the lives and futures of American children. Drawing on in-depth observations of black and white middle-class, working-class, and poor families, "Unequal Childhoods" explores this fact, offering a picture of childhood today. Here are the frenetic families managing their children's hectic schedules of 'leisure' activities; and here are families with plenty of time but little economic security. Lareau shows how middle-class parents, whether black or white, engage in a process of 'concerted cultivation' designed to draw out children's talents and skills, while working-class and poor families rely on 'the accomplishment of natural growth', in which a child's development unfolds spontaneously - as long as basic comfort, food, and shelter are provided. Each of these approaches to childrearing brings its own benefits and its own drawbacks. In identifying and analyzing differences between the two, Lareau demonstrates the power, and limits, of social class in shaping the lives of America's children. The first edition of "Unequal Childhoods" was an instant classic, portraying in riveting detail the unexpected ways in which social class influences parenting in white and African-American families. A decade later, Annette Lareau has revisited the same families and interviewed the original subjects to examine the impact of social class in the transition to adulthood.
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First Sentence
Laughing and yelling, a white fourth-grader named Garrett Tallinger splashes around in the swimming pool in the backyard of his four-bedroom home in the suburbs on a late spring afternoon. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Laughing and yelling, a white fourth-grader named Garrett Tallinger splashes around in the swimming pool in the backyard of his four-bedroom home in the suburbs on a late spring afternoon. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
An eye-opening study into why and how some children learn to grow up successful in life while some others unfortunately do not. The findings of this social study can help parents of all types improve the positive exposure and upbringing of their children. It is also particularly helpful to teachers who may want to know why some children do better in school than others. Such teachers can work with school children and their parents to make small but significant improvements to the childrens' learning abilities.
For example, after the school holidays, children from middle class homes are more likely to return to school with improved reading skills than children from poorer homes - why is this and what can be done to help the poorer children keep up?
Another example: what role does structured play take in helping children to grow into assertive adults? What about unstructured play? Is one any better than the other?
After reading this book I bought copies for my brothers and their wives!
For example, after the school holidays, children from middle class homes are more likely to return to school with improved reading skills than children from poorer homes - why is this and what can be done to help the poorer children keep up?
Another example: what role does structured play take in helping children to grow into assertive adults? What about unstructured play? Is one any better than the other?
After reading this book I bought copies for my brothers and their wives!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
28 reviews
54 of 54 people found the following review helpful
Compelling examination of family life and parenting
21 Aug 2004
Format:Paperback
My bookgroup read this book and we couldn't stop talking about it. Lareau concludes from her look at different families that there are 2 parenting styles in America: one for middle and upper class families (concerted cultivation)and another for poor and low-income families (natural development). This book made us think about how we were raised, how we wish to raise our children and why, and how these ideals do and don't match with our spouses' upbringing and parenting styles. Lareau outlines the positive and negative aspects of each parenting style. This is a fascinating book for anyone interested in race and class in America. It is also a fine example of a research study written for a lay audience. As an academic and qualitative researcher I found this to be an excellent guide. It was easy to read, even for my non-academic friends, and every footnote was revealing about Lareau's own biases and upbringing. A MUST READ!
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Excellent research and book
20 Dec 2005
Format:Paperback
I used this book in a senior seminar that I taught in the fall 2005 semester on children's health, education and welfare, and my students thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Besides getting caught up in the narrative of the children's lives that she chronicles, Lareau's research helped them conceptualize how they could initiate their own small-scale research projects. Her book, better than most others like it, puts a human face on the aggregate statistics that show that socioeconomic class is strongly determinative of children's futures.
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Excellent read for teachers
10 Mar 2004
Format:Paperback
This is an excellent book for teachers. While it isn't written specifically for us, it gives insight into how parents of various social classes view the educational system and the role of teachers. It is something that you have thought of, but didn't realize the extent. It helps understand why the things you're doing just aren't working, and what you can do to help foster parental communication to better a child's education. Consider it a must-read for the theory side of teaching; however, anyone can gain valuble knowledge by reading this book.
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