Research Proposal

On
Ideal Model of Parenting and Parenting in The Real World
Submitted To: Dr. Meenakshi
Submitted By: Pardeepika

Introduction

Parenting is also considered as the child rearing. It is a process which includes so many activities
into it. Activities like promoting, supporting the social, physical, emotional and intellectual
growth of child are embedded into it. It can't be clearly defined because even the definition of
parenting is to be critically viewed and examined. Parenting presents different dimension to the
meaning itself. One is an ideal type and other is what we experience in real world. So, it is
interesting to examine that how the process of parenting that is practiced in real life is much
more complex than the model that is being presented as an ideal parenting model. There is a
different kind of politics that is played in creating, establishing and describing the model of ideal
parenting. Parenting in real word is affected by so much factors. It is much more multiplex and
its dynamics are quite wide which are hidden and unraveled by the ideal model of parenting.
Many social, political al and economic aspects that affects the structure of parenting in the real
world. This paper tries to understand the gap between the notion of ideal parenting and parenting
in real world. An effort is made to get a comprehensive and critical understanding of both.
Theoretical Framework
As described by Weber that ideal type is an abstract model and it is considered as a standard of
comparison. Ideal type enables us to show the diversion of the thing or any idea from its ideal
standard. Similar case is with 'parenting'. But it is also significant to note that the ideal model of
parenting is less comprehensive and didn't even touch the aspects of complex social institutions
include caste, gender, politics, class and religion also. If we consider the idea of C. R. Mills on
sociological imagination and how it is important to link oneself with history as well as the
current social institutions. And how both are affected and shaped by each other. So, it is
important to consider how various social aspects affect the behavior of parenting and vice versa.
For instance, lets focus on the aspect of class in order to understand parenting. A person who is
upper in the hierarchy of class practices parenting in different way. 'Giving space to children,
supporting and guiding without making burden on them, talking to them as friends' are most
prominent ideas that are there. And in modern times, rich people outsource their parenting
activities various institutions like play schools etc. But a person of middle or lower class prefers
that child should be controlled by the adults otherwise they will be spoiled. More focus, control
every aspect including physical, social and financial need to be there; according to the parenting
pattern of middle- or lower-class members of society. Aspects of parenting and how they are
conducted are also different from one generation to another. How one's grandparents treated his
or her parents and how his parents treated them and their parents. Changes in the parenting
patterns and notion of ideal parenting takes places even from generation to generation and one
generation over a period of time. It is also important to note that how the parenting pattern differs
from each other in context of the family structure. The process of parenting is different in
nuclear family from that of which is conducted in the joint family. Gender is also a significant
aspect which need to be consider in understanding parenting. parenting activities conducted by
the Father is different from that of mother. And how a girl child is treated is different a boy child.
From the above discussion it is seen how the aspects of class, caste, gender and family structure
plays an important role in shaping the parental activities as a whole. It also affects the emotional,
intellectual, physical and psychic of the child.
Review of literature
In the book, Parenting in Transition: An Introduction and Summary. European Parents in the
1990s. Contradictions and Comparisons, written by Björnberg (1991), it is mentioned that
behavior of parents affect the overall personality of the child. For instance, if one's parents treat
him or her very kindly and happily the perception of child for the society will be similar.
Another example mentioned by Bjornberg in his work is that if one's parents get divorced and
get married to other individuals affect the child badly and child will have the negative
perceptions of marriages and relationships. If a person treats badly his parents in front of his
child affect the psychic of child adversely. In his book it is also mentioned how the patterns of
parenting has changed over time. Earlier it was assumed that proper control over the child can
help him or her in order to keep safe but now it is considered that controlling doesn't help and
parents need to guide them rather than putting burden of their ideas and values.
In the paper, Mothering: Letting go of the past ideal and valuing the real, written by Larson,
(2000). tells that how the burden of parenting is put on the shoulders on mother itself. All the
good and bad activities of the child are linked to the mother's behavior. If a child has done
something wrong, his or her mother's parenting process is questioned. All the values including
kindness, love, affection and helping nature is to be taught by mother according to the ideal
model of parenting. In his work, it is also mentioned that according to an ideal model of
parenting a mother should stay at home and child rearing should be the main task of her. But this
ideal model has changed over time. Now a days in real world, the practices which need to be
taught by mother are outsourced and taught by various institutions like play schools through
various games and activities.
Rationale
As described earlier that parenting pattern affect the in reality is different from the model of ideal
parenting model, so in order to understand the clear gap and to fulfill the gap a critical
understanding of both the parenting pattern is needed. This research will do the same. And to
understand how various social facts and institutions including class, caste, gender and family
structures affect the parenting process as a whole. It is also true that parenting activities affect the
psychic of the child and hence plays an important role in the personality of that particular
individual. These individuals are the part of society and in turns affect the society as a whole.
The attitude like helping, solidarity, compassion, kindness, they learn from the parenting model
in which he/she survives. If a child is treated badly in the family, he or she will see society from
the similar lenses and hence affect the whole society. So, it is significant to understand the
parenting patterns and how they affect the whole society. Why parents behave in certain way and
their responses on parenting patterns, need to studied as it affects the overall development of
child.
Objectives
Objectives of this research is to critically examine the ideal model of parenting and parenting
process in reality. And how social institutions like gender, caste, class, family structure and
religion shape parenting process. Another objective of parenting is to understand the gap
between ideal parenting and parenting in real world. Objective of this research is also to
understand that, up to which extent the emotional and intellectual aspects of a child is affected by
the parenting process. And to focus upon the differences in the personalities of individuals due
to the differences in the parenting activities conducted by their parents in particular. A significant
focus will be placed to understand how the relation between husband and wife affect the
parenting process as a whole. And to understand difference in parenting activities conducted by
the single parent.
Methodology
The research will be conducted through the questionnaires (answers from ranking 1 to 5) which
are to be filled by people from different class, caste, gender and religion. A significant focus will
be placed in order to get the data and information from people of different generations in order to
get a sense how the model of ideal parenting and also real-world parenting has changed over a
period of time. Overall it can be said that a quantitative approach will be followed to collect data
and then critically analyze it, in order to get the sense in quantitative terms.
Bibliography
Björnberg, U. (1991). „Parenting in Transition: An Introduction and Summary. European Parents
in the 1990s. Contradictions and Comparisons. New Brunswick: Transaction Publisher, 1-29.
Larson, E. A. (2000). Mothering: Letting go of the past ideal and valuing the real. American
Journal of Occupational Therapy, 54(3), 249-251.
Becker, H. (1933). Culture case study and ideal-typical method: with special reference to Max
Weber. Soc. F., 12, 399.