Unequal Childhoods: Accomplishment Of Social Class

Everything in society, not only has an impact but it shapes the individual as well. There are many inequalities that individuals face based on their: race, socioeconomic statuses, beliefs, and because of their lack sufficient knowledge. The way one raises a child has a huge impact; however, social class has a tremendous effect on the child because that is what allows the child to experience opportunities. If the child comes from a middle class, working class or poor family there is already inequality being present unconsciously because they are exposed to different culture, system, and different capital. For instance, In Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race and Family Life, Annette Lareau analyzes how social statuses impacts parenting. As a sociologist,
she observes twelve families of children between the ages of nine and ten who happen to come from different household and academic experience. However, the main focus of her study is how social statues has an impact on the child and family, by presenting the pros and cons of Concerted Cultivation and the Accomplishment of Natural Growth. Although Accomplishment of Natural Growth allows the child to value time not just with family but to be a kid, Concerted Cultivation is a better method to foster a child because it allows the child to gain skills that would benefit them in the future.
Raising a child in concerted cultivation not only allows the child to be exposed to different activities, but it would also give the child the chance to explore different opportunities that would allow the child to succeed because it cultivates the child's talents by developing responsibility and leadership skills. Concerted Cultivation is present mainly in middle and upper class families allowing the child to be involved in sports, clubs, institutions and other extra-curriculum activities. Even though children tend to have busy schedules and are exposed to different activities throughout the day they are more likely to succeed. In the article “Parenting Practices, Culture Capital and Educational Outcomes: The Effects of Concerted Cultivation on
Academic Achievement” by Jeremy Redford states that, “children spend 18% of their time in ‘structured activities’ and these activities were linked to both cognitive and emotional development [and that] extracurricular activities leads to ‘overcoming fear and anxiety,’ learning how to interact with others, and developing leadership skills” (31). These talents that they would develop allow the child to achieve beyond academic. Parents through Concerted Cultivation focus in the child's development by promoting and improving their cognitive and social skills. For instance, Alexander Williams is involved in many activities from soccer, baseball, piano, school plays...etc. His parents believe it is important to expose Alexander to many activities, which not only allows the child to develop life skills from leadership, to be a team player, and the sense of responsibility. These skills and talents are a result of concerted cultivation because the parents are being involved in the child's activities which allow them to develop knowledge and skills. The reason why these skills are valuable and beneficial is because the skills that they learn as a child would help them prepared for the future for instance, they would have more confidence in interacting with others as well as working with others that would allowed them to convey their talents. As a result, with Concerted Cultivation a child is able to develop social skills such as dialogue and a sense of entitlement that allows them to enhance their knowledge and vocabulary skills. As a result, that would allow them to be prepared for their everyday life because they have the skills that would help them express themselves in an articulate way. For instance, in the working and poor families, dialogue is not really present as the middle and upper class families. This is a skill that is emphasize and develop throughout daily life in Concerted Cultivation because parents are more focus on developing skills such as language and reasoning skills that would allow the child to communicate effectively in different settings. Once they have the skills to communicate, they are able to have a sense of entitlement because now they are able to question, negotiate and think for themselves. For instance, in the Williams family they allowed their child the “opportunity to develop and practice verbal skills, including how to summarize, highlight important details, clarify, and amplify information” (117). In other words, language is frequently used not only to develop a relationship but also to strengthen the child's skills, vocabulary and knowledge of terms by preparing him or her for the real world. Also parents developing negotiate skills, not only is an important factor that emphasizes dialogue but it also helps the child think critically because they are able to persuade and process information that would allowed them to come up with different points of view in order to avoid or improve a situation. Children in Concerted Cultivation tend to succeed because they have an advantage compared to others who do not exercise or are introduced to skills such as, the importance of developing their vocabulary. For instance, in the article “Cultural Capital, Gender, and School Success: The Role of Habitus” by Susan A. Dumais states that Cultural Capital is comprised of "Linguistic and cultural competence [which allows the child to] feel more comfortable in school, communicate easily with teachers, and are therefore more likely to do well in school” (44). Cultural Capital is being reinforce to a child at a young age by their parents, which not only allows the child to succeed in the future but it also gives them the ability to succeed in competitive settings or certain situations because they have language, cognitive and social skills to hold a conversation and to rationalize their own opinions. This eventually would allow the child to grow up with the sense of entitlement and to stand up for their opinion. Therefore cultural capital, gives the child an advantage to develop their knowledge to communicate and to stand up for themselves that would definitely help them in the future. In Natural Growth the child has control over their leisure activities/time where the child is unable to develop comprehensive and language skills that would help them in the future. In contrast to Concerted Cultivation, Natural Growth is another method that is mostly found in working and poor families. For instance, the child has more free time to play with friends or with relatives and have a more active-imagination in creating games to pass down time. In Natural Growth, parents focus on the child having a “childlike” life. Indicating that parents are more focus in the present and trying to live day-by-day instead of focusing on the future. Parents for instance, believe that “as long as they were provide with comfort, food, shelter, and other basic support “(238). That would eventually allow the child to flourish. However, that is not enough because they might be focusing on the child to develop physically but they are not developing the child’s potentials and do not take an active role as parents to be involved in the child’s academic life. They are lacking on the importance on developing social, cognitive, and language skills necessary to succeed in a world with knowledge is power. Also they are unable to flourish these talents that they might have because of the lack of resources and the verbal gap present to speak to an “authority” or with someone who is consider a professional. Although, parents in Natural Growth do want their child to succeed in life however due to the socioeconomic statues they might not have the privilege to splurge on their child. According to the article “Social Reproduction and Child-Rearing Practices: Social Class, Children's Agency, and the Summer Activity Gap” by Tiffani Chin states that because they may not have the “financial resources, parental time, parental knowledge, and a relatively safe environment (for activities like bike riding)” (193). Children in Natural Growth do not tend to experience different activities, do not explore outside their surroundings and have less experience with authority figures and with other adults besides family members. To sum up, Concerted Cultivation is considered a better method to raise a child because it gives an advantage to the child. Although he might be a child these skills and experiences are what are going to defined them because those who are exposed to different things in life are more like to succeed. Besides helping a child academically, it also helps the child in their personality, because Concerted Cultivation helps the child develop character and develop the individual.
Signifying that children are willing to challenge themselves and go the extra mile because they know they have their parents support and are more likely to motivate their child. In the article, “Childhood: curiosity, courage, and confidence” by Namita Unnikrishnan states that the “hallmark of a successful education system is one which liberates the individual by ensuring the development of the 'three C's'—curiosity, courage and confidence. In other words true learning emerges from the well known cycle of love and contentment. This implies of course that both at home and at school the learning process be supported by a nurturing and competent environment” (161). In other words, Character should be developing at home and in institutions. In Concerted Cultivation this method is encouraged because this relates back to the sense of entitlement of a character trait or behavior because they start to feel entitled to resources and different opportunities. Meaning that they have the courage and confidence because they been encouraged to strive and to succeed. Concerted Cultivation goes beyond academic learning because also at home parents are responsible to develop the child’s curiosity and the allowed them to develop into a successful
person. Relating to the previous paragraph, besides developing their personal character they are also most likely to have educational character. Indicating that not only is the parent’s job, but also the institutions priority that teachers or any professional help the child develop intrinsic worth qualities. Meaning that their actions do have consequences and they should be aware of the misfortunes of others. For instance, in the article “Character Education in America's Public Schools” by Derek H. Davis states that education character focuses “on the development of particular virtues within the individual person…through service projects and extracurricular, activities”(11). They understand that they have a privilege academically. But also education character focuses on the “academic, social, and civic skills in youth”. In that case, it related to Concerted Cultivation because children are not only investing their time to these activities and gaining the knowledge but hey are also helping the community and developing their inner personality. Such as developing moral reasoning and sense of respect to others and self-discipline meaning they are less likely to confront things with violence. These qualities, would allowed the child to be successful in life because they can apply them to their everyday activities and social gatherings. Also parents who raise a child in Concerted Cultivation could be a role model to their children. The reason why parents can be a good example to their child is because parents already have a hectic schedule. For instance, most parents have commitments with their work that requires them to travel. However, they still manage to be involved in the child’s activities and foster their talents and skills. As parents, they sacrifice a lot of time by traveling and taking their child to their commitments. Besides that they are also involved on their academic performances meaning they take the time to help them with assignments and are involve in activities in schools like appointments, parent conference, plays...etc. Their parent setting an example not only allows the child to live in a healthy environment but they are more likely to have a good relationship with their parents and have an active relationship with their parents. For instance, in natural growth many children are not surrounded to positive role models and are exposed to family drama and violence. On the other hand, in concerted cultivation many of these children are exposed to influential people that serve like a guidance to them. That is why Concerted Cultivation influences the child to have a better future because they come from a family that is setting an example that as parents they have an obligation and the commitment to be involved in the child’s life and to serve as an example. In addition, Concerted Cultivation allows a child to succeed economically as a result to their academic skills and personal growth they are most likely to accomplish higher education and seek a career. Compared to Natural Growth they are most likely to succeed economically because as previously stated they have more knowledge of the world compared to someone who has never been exposed to different experiences and to different people. For instance, in the article “The Education Gospel and the Role of Vocationalism in American Education” by W. Norton Grubb and Marvin Lazerson states that “education raises both personal and public economic wealth and solves a myriad of social Problems” (22). Stating that the individual is prepared to enter the competitive workforce. People in Concerted Cultivation are most likely to network which allows them to gained beneficial information and develop connections. Also because as kids they been prepared to have interaction with adults and be prepared in how to present themselves such as making sure to have eye contact with the person. Concerted Cultivation allows children to reach their goal because they are more involved and invest in their future. Since they have been exposed to many activities they enhance skills such as,