Children

I feel as if there exist an endless number of topics (and therefore articles) that could be related to the sociological discussion of children. This week, we yet again are looking at very different situations, but all relating to children.

I find it interesting that it so often comes back to gender roles, and women being the more competent parent. In Stacey and Bilblarz, we come across a finding from a study: “It is undeniable that, just as a mother’s influence is crucial to the secure, healthy and full development of a child, a paternal presence in the life of a child is essential to the child emotionally and physically.” (161). As well, when analyzing lesbian vs. gay parenting, they find that the “female gender is probably the source of the positive signs for parenting skill, participating in child rearing… “ (175). As we learned last week, men are capable of “mothering,” but this does not come across within this weeks readings.

I would also be intrigued to see if Orellana et al. study were to be revisited, with more than ten years having passed since it was published, to see the differences in communication patterns back home. After watching Stefana Broadbent’s TED talks, I’m almost certain it must have. Now, most people have computers and some Internet access. With the Internet comes email, instant messaging, and most importantly Skype (essentially free phone calls to and from anywhere on the planet). As well, cell phone use has increased, and with it comes the possibility of texting, which is cheaper than calling. Personally, my sister and I live in different provinces, and I am able to speak to her multiple times a day, through different mediums. We use blackberry messenger, Facebook chat, I chat, MSN Messenger, and sometimes (although rarely), we call each other on the phone. I think today, migrants would be much more able to maintain communication with the home country, without the expectation that came along with having to send money with a letter. Also, many of these forms of communication are inexpensive, especially compared with long distance phone calls.

1. In Does the Sexual Orientation of the Parent Matter, it comes across that a lot of the differences in the children of lesbigay parents can stem from the added systemic stress that comes along with not being in a legally recongnized union. This is not the case in Canada. Do you think this would have altered the findings anyway?

2. Do you as a child ever remember eavesdropping on your parents? Who were your caregivers other than your parents? If both of your parents were working, would you say you experienced a time bind?

3. How do you think it would be possible to solve or fix the problems inherent in the school system as depicted in Lareau’s study. Do you think it is the onus of the teacher or parent to make sure the child is learning and staying on the right track? Should teaching patterns be altered based on income of the neighborhood?