Why did you make this reading your Reading of Choice this week? What attracted you to it in the first place and what stood out for you now, when you’re done?
I chose this reading because the title caught my attention. I thought that any discussion of unequal childhoods would be interesting. Knowing that we all come from different childhoods, I was interested in which perspective the author would take in this reading. As I read the first couple of paragraphs, I was more drawn in to what the author wanted to explain.
What is the main conclusion of the reading: the message the author wants you to take home? What is the thesis statement of the articles? Info on writing a thesis statement may be found at
The thesis statement is: Working class parents’ inability to incorporate concerted cultivation in parenting are out of sync with societies instiutions, and instead of gaining a sense of entitlement, they gain a sense of distance and distrust.
What social problem is the author dealing with? How does this social problem affect your life? Directly or indirectly.
Does this reading deal with inequality and difference in power between different social groups? What groups are they? What part does this inequality play in the social problem discussed in the reading?
This reading addresses the differences and inequalities of social class. The author claims that social class defines how a child will experience life.
Sociological perspective. State the authors sociological perspective. Structural- functionalism, Conflict, Symbolic or Social Constructionism. Please tell what you know this perspective and how it approaches the topic of the week. How do you see this approach employed in the reading? Can you see any different approaches? Are there any sociological perspectives that would be particularly beneficial for approaching this issue? Are there any sociological perspectives that would be potentially misleading or even harmful for approaching the issue? Why?
In the reading, the author discusses how social class influences how a child will experience life. She claims that typically, a child with a parent who graduated from college will more likely graduate from college as well. Thus, the inequality remains because those children with parents who did not graduate from college are less likely to graudate as well. Additionally, the author claims that children from lower class families gain less advantages through life experiences than children of middle class families.
The Structural-functionalist perspective could be misconceived in this article. Under this perspective, inequality is viewed as inevitable as it plays a significant role in the function of society. Social inequality and social stratification provides awards based on ability under this perspective. The author does discuss this theory in making her claims but does not claim that ability results in rewards, rather she claims that social class defines which rewards will be gained by an individual.
Do you question or challenge the authors approach and or conclusion?
I do agree with the author’s approach and conclusion. The author claims that social class defines the experience a child will have in his or her life. This is consistent with the conflict theory’s concept of social inequality. Those with more resources have more advantages and the ability to gain more rewards that are not based on ability or talent. In regards to the argument made in this article, I do not think that any of the other sociological perspectives would provide an explanation as well as the conflict theory.
Does the author suggest solutions to the problem he describes, can you suggest your own solutions? What could you do in your everyday life activities to alleviate the situation described in your reading? Please not that I don’t know or I cannot really do anything does not constitute a sufficient answer.
References
Lareau, Annette. "Excerpts from Unequal Childhoods." n.d.
