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: Hardback
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 an era of education's increasing institutional strength, Motherhood, Childhood, and Parenting in an Age of Education presents a fresh perspective on the high demands of contemporary parenthood. It explores the emerging narrative surrounding the ideal mother, examines the underlying assumptions that define the good mother, and examines the implications for a good childhood in this context. This book highlights 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 itself has undergone significant expansion over time, becoming our largest social intervention. It has defined behaviors and beliefs such as parental involvement in schooling, the concept of the unengaged parent, and the notion of the deficient student.

Understanding the complexities of motherhood, childhood, and parenting in an age of education is crucial for individuals, families, and society as a whole. By recognizing the social construction of these roles and the evolving nature of education, we can work towards creating a more supportive and inclusive environment for all children and parents. This requires a collective effort to promote education, support parental involvement, and foster a culture that values the diverse perspectives and experiences of families.

Weight: 470g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032352275