eight - Parenthood and parenting in context

Summary

Introduction

Part Three analyses social research about everyday perspectives and experiences of parenthood and parenting. This chapter considers issues emerging from a thematic analysis of recent sociological and social policy research about the social constructions of parental rights and responsibilities, and parents’ experiences, concerns and practices across a range of social, personal and family contexts and in relation to a range of ‘parenting topics’. Everyday accounts of parenthood and parenting are analysed as informed by ‘layers of meaning’ (Charles et al, 2008) (as well as constructed through the research process). The chapter considers everyday accounts and experiences as, in particular, reflecting ‘layers of meaning’ about:

• • ‘family’ and parent–child relations

• • children and children's needs

• • maternal and paternal responsibilities for children

• • desirable and normative parenting and childcare practices.

Many parents, in line with policy and legal imperatives, seek caring, loving and authoritative parent–child relationships; construct good parenthood as involving the fulfilment of obligations and responsibilities towards children; view good parenting as meeting children's needs; and construct particular practices as ‘desirable parenting practices’. However, what constitutes caring and authoritative parent– child relationships, children's needs, parental responsibilities and desirable parenting practices is contested, context-dependent and dynamic. First, the chapter examines three aspects of parent–child and family relationships: (1) the ethic of care for children, (2) intimacy in parent–child and family relations, and (3) parent–child power and authority relations. Second, the chapter selectively reviews research into particular aspects of parenthood and parenting. Third, it highlights several moral dilemmas that parents and families negotiate.

Parent–child and family relations

Key themes in everyday accounts of parent–child and family relationships are: an ethic of care, intimacy and power relations.

An ethic of care towards children

The child welfare paradigm orientates parent–child relations towards the care, nurture and protection of children. A distinction can be made between ‘care as work, labour and activity’, ‘caring about’ children and ‘care as an ethical orientation’ (Williams, 2004a; Doucet, 2006). Chapter Two drew on Sevenhuijsen's (1998) notion of an ethic of care as ‘motivation towards and sensitivities to the welfare needs of others’. The ESRC Care, Values and Future of Welfare research group (CAVA) undertook in-depth studies of ‘the values that matter’ to people in their personal and family lives (Williams, 2004a).