10: Parenting in Contemporary Society
- Page ID
- 332522
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- 10.1: Learning Objectives
- This page outlines the learning objectives for the chapter "Parenting in Contemporary Society".
- 10.2: Introduction
- This page provides a brief introduction to the chapter “Parenting in Contemporary Society” and highlights the key topics that will be explored.
- 10.3: The Functions of Parenting
- This page explores the critical roles of parents and caregivers in children's development, emphasizing their duties in providing support, socialization, and education. It highlights how these figures shape children's understanding of societal norms and values while navigating complex relationship dynamics across life stages. The discussion includes how various parenting paradigms, shaped by cultural, social, and personal influences, reflect societal views on childcare practices.
- 10.4: Sociological Perspectives on Parenting
- This page explores different sociological perspectives on parenting: Structural Functionalism views it as vital for societal stability and norm transmission, Conflict Theory highlights resource inequalities affecting parenting influenced by class and ethnicity, Feminist Perspectives critique the gendered division of caregiving responsibilities, and Symbolic Interactionism examines how everyday interactions shape family roles and the evolving meanings of parenting.
- 10.5: Parenting Practices, Styles, and Ideologies
- This page examines parenting practices and styles, particularly Baumrind's classifications—authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved—and their effects on children's development. It notes that authoritative parenting typically yields positive outcomes, while uninvolved parenting tends to result in negative effects.
- 10.6: Parenting in LGBTQ+ Families
- This page addresses the diversity of LGBTQ+ families and counters myths about their parenting effectiveness. It asserts that children of same-sex parents fare equally well as those from different-sex families, with family relationship quality being crucial for well-being. Research from psychologist Charlotte Patterson has played a key role in challenging stereotypes and informing custody decisions. The page advocates for evidence-based assessments over bias-driven views on family dynamics.
- 10.7: Working Parents, Childcare, and Family Life
- This page explores the evolution of working parents, especially mothers, and its effects on childcare and family dynamics. It notes the rise in mothers' workforce participation and discusses the debates surrounding childcare's influence on child development, highlighting mixed research findings. Additionally, it emphasizes the role of parenting quality and childcare settings, while addressing inequalities in access to affordable, quality childcare in the U.S.
- 10.8: The Challenges of Parenting in Contemporary Society
- This page highlights the stressors faced by modern parents, including economic challenges and family policies, as reported by the U.S. Surgeon General. It notes that parents experience higher stress levels compared to non-parents due to increasing complexities in family structures and financial strain.
- 10.9: Parenting in the Age of Social Media
- This page discusses the dual role of digital media in children's and adolescents' lives, highlighting both its potential for connection and associated mental health risks. It emphasizes parental challenges in managing technology use and the negative impacts of heavy social media engagement, such as anxiety and body image issues.
- 10.10: Parenting in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- This page explores the dual role of artificial intelligence (AI) in parenting, detailing its advantages like tutoring and scheduling support, alongside risks including the creation of nonconsensual sexual images and emotional dependency on chatbots. It emphasizes the dangers of low-quality AI-generated content for children and stresses the need for improved digital literacy and communication in families.
- 10.11: Conclusion
- This page provides concluding remarks for the chapter “Parenting in Contemporary Society” and highlights the key ideas and themes covered throughout the chapter.
Acknowledgments
I am very grateful to Chabot College student Jerome Benedict Remigio for reviewing this chapter draft and providing thoughtful feedback from a student perspective.
Thumbnail Attribution
Chapter header image: Pedestrian crossing sign of parent and child via FreeSVG. Public domain (CC0).


