Motherhood, Childhood, and Parenting in an Age of Education: An Invited Invasion

Motherhood is a socially constructed role that evolves over time, and with the rise in educational attainment of mothers, expectations associated with childhood include education, cognitive development, and extracurricular activities. Motherhood, Childhood, and Parenting in an Age of Education offers a new way to conceptualize the high demands of contemporary parenthood, tracing the emerging narrative about the good mother, changes in the underlying assumptions of what constitutes the good mother, and the implications for the good childhood. Education is driving the formation of the parent and child roles in the dominant contemporary culture of the US, defining behaviors and beliefs such as parental involvement in schooling, the unengaged parent, and the deficient student.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 150 pages
Publication date: 05 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Motherhood, a celebrated yet underappreciated role, is often perceived as a natural process, something instinctive that we refine by observing our own mothers and others in our community. However, we rarely consider motherhood as something that is both time- and culturally specific, yet, like culture itself, it is socially constructed, and both motherhood and childhood evolve over time. With the rise in educational attainment among mothers in the American population, the expectations associated with childhood have expanded beyond mere education to include cognitive development and extracurricular activities. This shift reflects the growing partnership between parents and education in the joint project of human development of children.

In the book "Motherhood, Childhood, and Parenting in an Age of Education," the authors offer a fresh perspective on the high demands of contemporary parenthood. They trace the emerging narrative about the "good mother," examine the changing assumptions underlying what constitutes the "good mother," and explore the implications for a good childhood as education gains institutional strength. This book demonstrates that education plays a pivotal role in shaping the parent and child roles in the dominant contemporary culture of the United States, although alternative models exist. Education has evolved over time to become our largest social intervention, shaping behaviors and beliefs such as parental involvement in schooling, the concept of the unengaged parent, and the notion of the deficient student.

The authors argue that the increasing emphasis on education has led to a shift in the expectations and responsibilities of mothers and fathers. Mothers are now expected to be more involved in their children's education, participate in school activities, and provide cognitive stimulation at home. Fathers, on the other hand, are also being called upon to play a more active role in their children's education, whether through involvement in school activities or through supporting their children's learning at home.

However, the authors also acknowledge that the rise
emphasis on education has its challenges. They note that the pressure to achieve academic success can lead to stress and anxiety for both parents and children, and that the demands of education can sometimes conflict with the needs of families and communities. They argue that policymakers and educators
need to consider the broader
impact of education on families and communities and work to create policies that support the well-being of all children and families.

In conclusion, motherhood, childhood, and parenting in an age of education are complex and multifaceted issues that require careful consideration and analysis. The book "Motherhood, Childhood, and Parenting in an Age of Education" offers a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate about the role of education in shaping the lives of children and families. By tracing the evolving narrative about the "good mother," examining the changing assumptions underlying what constitutes the "good mother," and exploring the implications for a good childhood as education gains institutional strength, the authors provide a new way, to conceptualize the high demands of contemporary parenthood. This book demonstrates that education is driving the formation of the parent and child roles in the dominant contemporary culture of the US, although alternative models exist. It also highlights the challenges and opportunities that arise from the increasing emphasis on education and calls for policymakers and educators to work together to create policies that support the well-being of all children and families.

Weight: 260g
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032352251