HOW DO PARENTING STYLES DIFFER AMONG CULTURES?

Jonathan Ghysels

WHY DOES PARENTING DIFFER?

Parenting through the world differs just as religion, tradition, ethics and diet does

Just as parts of India differ in language and religion, so do the principles communicated to childrenEx: Hindu children taught to control instinctual impulses

EARLY EXPLORATION

Exploration on parenting styles emerged around 1950

Differences explored to highlight parental tech.Ex: In which countries is swaddling common?

Inferences based in Freudian and Fundamentalism

THE WESTERN WORLD

Focus on IndividualismEx: Personal creativity, boosting self-esteem

Value in Autonomy Primary concerns start with infant’s

sleeping Liberal use of “time outs” and discipline

THE EASTERN WORLD

Pressure for Older Siblings to Oversee Younger

“Time outs” of Discipline used Conservatively

Collectivism Valued Emphasize respecting elders and

assuming positions of responsibility

COLLECTIVISM VS INDIVIDUALISM

DIFFERENCES WITHIN A REGION

US Parents Adopt Styles Similar to their Background

African American Parents Expect Greater from children

E. African Nuer parents stress egalitarianism, while neighboring Gusii parents are authoritarian

AFRICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Women raised to be Breadwinners Somali children taught to reason rather

than assert Observation and Imitation Continual practice of life skills Parents in North African areas tend to

comfort crying infants in 1/6 the time than American Parents

POINTS OF INTEREST

56% more Anglo-American parents find importance in finding self vs. Asian-American parents

Indians living in Asia and Anglo-Americans have strikingly similar concepts of child development

Child’s diet far more important in W. Europe, Child’s sleep more important in the US

CONCLUDING POINTS

Parenting’s reasoning in context of cultural values

Parenting is far more grouped regionally than by country

The nation’s work ethic and views on success largely illustrate what parents emphasize

BIBLIOGRAPHY Sebuliba, Dorothy N. "Cultural Aspects of Assessing and

Enhancing Parenting." Cultural Aspects of Assessing and Enhancing Parenting. 18 Feb. 2000. Web. 21 May 2012. <http://priory.com/SEBULIBA.htm>.

Wise, Sarah, and Lisa Silva. "Differential Parenting of Children from Diverse Cultural Backgrounds Attending Child Care." Australian Institute of Family Studies. Apr. 2007. Web. 21 May 2012.

<http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/rp39/rp39.html>.Cody, Paul. "Parenting Babies in Different Cultures." Parenting Babies in Different Cultures. Cornell University, 22 Jan. 1998. Web. 21 May 2012. <http://www.news.cornell.edu/chronicle/98/1.22.98/Small.html>.

IMAGES

Individualism and Collectivism Domains Assessed in Individualism--Collectivism Scales. Digital image. Web. 22 May 2012. <http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/bul/128/1/images/bul_128_1_3_tbl1a.gif>.

American Flag. Digital image. Web. <http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/u/us.gif>.

Flag of China. Digital image. Web. 22 May 2012. <http://www.enchantedlearning.com/asia/china/flag.GIF>.