Susan Holloway

2.5 stars

The authors of this book spoke with 14 single mothers in-depth and write about the mothers' perceptions of their own lives, specifically in regard to their parenting. They address the fact that individuals parent their children differently in different cultural settings, that there is not a "one size fits all" approach to child-rearing.

While I appreciate that they spent so much time talking with the mothers themselves, and I certainly agree with a lot that was said, I didn't feel that there was enough analyzing of the mothers' beliefs and practices. No culture is free of problems, and no matter what culture a person comes from, there will always be those whose cultural practices are not above-board or effective.

Though the authors mentioned that they tried to be very careful not to judge in areas where they might disagree or have their own prejudices, the result is that the reader comes away with the idea that anything goes when it comes to raising kids - and, of course, that's not true, either.

"The idea of empowerment is appealing... But it must be recognized that these families will always have limits on their ability to make choices about work and family matters. They now are subjected to carrots and sticks by a welfare bureaucracy that is becoming more like a police force and less like a source of support." p 176

"Leading family professionals rarely question whether their tacit conceptions of optimal child-rearing scripts should be universally applied to all families, or whether non-middle-class contexts require different cultural assumptions. They frequently assume that their scripts and values are culture free and functional in all local settings. Parents who raise children differently are often viewed as ignorant or irrational; they are seen as putting their children's development in jeopardy." p 15

"... Families who live in neighborhoods where shootings, child abuse, and drug deals are commonplace may be less likely to encourage their youngsters to be curious, to ask lots of questions, or to challenge adult authority.... parents draw on cultural models available within their communities, making "choices" that are conditioned by the opportunities and barriers found within these settings." p 11

Chapters:
- Empowering Strangers
- 14 Poor Women/14 Rich Lives
- Motherhood in Poverty
- Conceptions of Children's Behavior
- Cultural Models of Child Rearing
- Discipline and Obedience
- Cultural Models of Education
- Negotiating Child Care and Welfare
- Teachers' Views of Preschool
- Lessons From Listening
- Strengthening Family Policy… (altro)