Social class relates to a tightly bound and largely closed hierarchical set of social strata that determines its members’ life opportunities. It influences an individual’s future success and livelihood (Furstenberg, 2010). On the other hand, Lareau (2007) describes this concept as an aspect that divides society as per the underlying social and economic status. This conceptualization differentiates people in terms of social categorization and impacts their lives.
Factors and Risks Affecting Child Development
The environment in which a child grows is instrumental in influencing their development. This is because they set the stage for a socially masterminded course in a child’s life (Furstenberg, 2010). Parents’ managerial skills typically affect how children advance through the phases that impact their prospective life opportunities. Social class also affects a child’s growth/development (Lareau, 2007). Kids from middle-class families access better health services and education than those from working- and lower-class households. Consequently, this enhances their proper development and receive the best life opportunities.
Level of Education and Socio-Economic Status of Parents
These two authors share a similar perspective regarding this concept. For instance, they both argue that highly educated guardians have better jobs and are economically stable. This subsequently influences how they nurture their kids. These children typically acquire the best education and life opportunities and are successful (Furstenberg, 2010; Lareau, 2007). Contrarily, parents with low educational qualifications have low-paying jobs, are financially disadvantaged, and are categorized as working- and low-income class. Their children experience limited access to quality education and openings to build a better future. Most children from this category may be underprivileged as their parents.
Class-Related Categories by Lareau
Concerted cultivation is a parenting style mostly adopted by middle-class guardians. These parents attempt to foster their children’s talents and abilities by developing organized activities in their lives (Lareau, 2007). This approach has been linked with the feeling of entitlement among children. It is also instrumental in helping youngsters acquire crucial social skills. On the contrary, children are typically exhausted, and their social spectrum is limited.
Natural growth is another parenting approach adopted by working- and lower-class parents. Here, guardians are caring, loving, and set limits for their children. However, within these established constraints, children are allowed to grow unrestrained (Lareau, 2007). This method has been associated with children’s increased creativity and self-sufficiency. Contrarily, under this style, youngsters’ relationship with people in authority is strained due to the lack of entitlement.
References
Lareau, A. (2007). Unequal childhoods: Inequalities in the rhythms of daily life. In Risman, B. J., & Rutter, V. E. (Eds.), Families as they really are (2nd ed.) (pp. 539–541). Manhattan, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.
Furstenberg, F. F. (2010). Diverging development: The not-so-invisible hand of social class in the United States. In Risman, B. J., & Rutter, V. E. (Eds.), Families as they really are (2nd ed.) (pp. 518–536). Manhattan, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.