Parenting Style between Americans and African Americans - Essay Example

Parenting style between Americans and African Americans Introduction Part I The family is the fundamental component of the society and the family upbringing matters a lot in defining the type of society that will be realized after a particular time. Americans and African American parents both have different parenting skills and beliefs even though not all. Americans are mostly soft on their kids while African Americans are mostly harsh on theirs. Hence, there is a difference in parenting styles between the African Americans and the Caucasian Americans (González & Harris, 2013).  Over the years the blacks have been known to use authoritative, punitive and forced behavior attitude on their children. This tendency was mostly drawn from the ancestral parents who used to be disciplinarians on their families. Through the frequent harsh and physical punishments, in the later days, the children develop to be resilient to their parents. The children normally have no right of negotiation but to follow their parents’ instructions (Shaw & Tuch, 2007).  The African Americans mostly use commands and punishments in order to instill discipline on their kids as compared to counseling and negotiations like the majority of other ethnic parents. Child beating is usually seen as the appropriate way of correcting the child in case of disobedience, than just talking. These methods originate from the ancient beliefs of instilling independence among the children, molding spiritual wellbeing, emphasis on the extended and family relationships, self racial pride and perseverance in times of hardships (Shaw & Tuch, 2007).  However, most of the defiant children come from the African American families. That can clearly be proved by relatively high numbers of them receiving social support from friends and extended families and high numbers of the homeless children. Despite the setbacks and no matter how wealthy the African American parents are, they still push their kids to achieve more. Through the tough love, the children learn to be emotionally strong even in times of hardships (Shaw & Tuch, 2007).  The extended family may live within the family and they may give discipline or care when situation arises. It is reported that the African American children are twice as much likely to be raised by an extended family, grandparent or single parent due to the frequent cases of divorce among the black families. Grandmothers are the frequent care givers for the abandoned or runaway children. The runaway children usually escape the violence or brutal treatment within the family. This can depict the dysfunctions that arise from the black American families (Hampton, Gullotta & Ramos, 2006).  Under education, underemployment and underpayment is another characteristic majorly associated with the African American culture. The socio economic distress will directly affect parenting of the African American parents. The financial status of the parents will depict the neigh hood they will live in. The poor African American parents live in congested neighborhoods where ill mannered behaviors are usually common (Shaw & Tuch, 2007).  Due to the low class neighborhood and congestion of people, the children will mingle with uncouth children who will directly have an effect on their behavior. In such neighborhoods, the immoral children use illegal drugs, commit crime, and abandon school which directly affects their social life. African American parents being strict on their parenting, they can easily neglect their kids if they develop these vices (Shaw & Tuch, 2007).  African American parents also have a habit of preventing their children against anti social activities. Lack of anti social activities especially for teenagers, leads them to become lonely and emotionally imbalanced. Emotional imbalance can cause the teenagers to become rowdy and defiant to their friends and parents too (Shaw & Tuch, 2007).  The defiant children can punish their parents through engagement in risky activities like crime and irresponsible sexual behaviors. Through irresponsible sexual encounters the defiant children can contract AIDS which is a taboo in the black’s community. This is the price of most authoritative parenting, which causes much pain and embarrassment to the parent and the child (Hampton, Gullotta & Ramos, 2006).  Further, in African American parenting; irresponsible illnesses are viewed as a taboo in the black’s community. The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and sexually transmitted diseases are mostly forbidden and members are usually regarded as outcasts if they happen to contract the diseases. Talks on these issues are normally censored but in case they happen, there is a huge repercussion on the offender (Hampton, Gullotta & Ramos, 2006).  The offender is occasionally mocked, sometimes beaten or forced out of the house. Through the strong beliefs the African Americans have on the church, they regard the act as shameful and immoral and they usually don’t condone the irresponsible behavior. Many have been forced to abort, abandon the child or runaway from their households just to escape the harsh punishments of their parents (Hampton, Gullotta & Ramos, 2006).  Part II Caucasian Parenting Caucasian parenting is normally practiced by the Caucasian Americans and Asians. In Caucasian Americans, there is a lot of affectionate love between the parent and the child. There are less physical punishments and more communications leading to a warm relationship between family members. There is also rewarding of the children in case of good conduct or performance, making the children to improve on their academics and general behavior (González & Harris, 2013).  It is the reason the Caucasian Children usually pass extremely well in academic performance. The kids usually have enough time to study and they can also be supplemented with remedial coaching at home in case of difficulties. The remedial teachers are usually professional in their specific fields and more often than not, they will improve the kids’ performance. The parents too are usually more concerned with their children academic progress and they frequently offer assistance where they can (González & Harris, 2013).  In Caucasian Americans, wrongful behavior is usually corrected by counseling, listening and emotional support on the children. The children have less fear to communicate with their parents. The children feel happy and open talking to their parents regarding any issue of discomfort. The parents’ involvement in their kids’ affairs is usually frequent; hence the parents are usually involved in many decisions of their children (González & Harris, 2013).  However, due to lack of psychological toughening by the parents, the children usually engage in unusual practices. Research indicates that the whites’ children usually engage in suicides, depressions more often than the other ethnic groups. The children are usually psychologically weak due to lack proper guidelines from the parents. They become rude and disrespectful to their peers and parents (González & Harris, 2013).  In Caucasian Americans, majority of the parents are normally in the middle and upper class levels making them to have less stress on their parenting duties. The parents usually have a joyful attitude around their children, making the children feel comfortable talking to them about the day at school or at home. Rewarding in almost every little detail of their children is a custom, making the children become the best they can to empress their parents (González & Harris, 2013).  Caucasian children are occasionally proud and bullies in learning institutions. The kids having been brought up in stable or wealthy families, they normally avoid the poor ones. The Caucasian children like to be associated the children of the same economic level and ignore the others. They also tend to avoid the common school facilities like the cafeteria and use the ones with a class. Due to association with the children of the same economic level, they tend to intimidate the less fortunate ones (González & Harris, 2013).  Caucasian Americans usually have fun activities with their children. It can be fishing, jogging, watching a movie, music or engaging in sports together. These activities have been reported to be less in other ethnic groups and which however constitute a bigger part in the child parent relationship. Caucasian Americans usually value their children talents and hobbies, and majority of them usually nurture their children gifted skills through coaching and mentorship (González & Harris, 2013).  Through frequent encouragements, rewarding and involvement in their children affairs, there is less school drop outs. School attendance is normally maintained due to the appreciation of education by the children. The Caucasian American children usually perform better in academics than their counterparts from other ethnicity; because there is to total commitment in education. The children are also backed by their parents leading them to feel happy and industrious in school (González & Harris, 2013).  Due to numerous engagements in social activities, some of the Caucasian children hardly read. To avoid disappointing their parents, they usually engage in examinations misconduct especially cheating. They themselves normally don’t fear failing examinations, but they just fear breaking parents’ feelings. Because of their close relationships with their parents, they fear letting their parents down and instead turn to buying of examination papers or using of handwritten leaflets in exam time (González & Harris, 2013).  The kids having been brought up in conducive environments, they rarely engage in hardcore criminal activities. This may be can be contributed by the moral teachings taught by their parents and the healthy environments they are exposed to. They are often scared of causing harm to others for fear of being grounded or disappointing their parents (González & Harris, 2013).  Conclusion Most of the parents usually raise their children according to the way they too have been brought up. It transitions from their grandparents’ attitudes, beliefs and customs, that the parents adopt and impact on their children. The African Americans have an authoritative way of parenting while the Caucasian parents usually have a pampering way of upbringing. The styles are normally influenced by the environments and way of upbringing the parents face in their childhoods. Moreover, they only slightly change their attitudes based on the change in environments but however, they retain their basic form and pass on to their generation. References González, A., & Harris, T. M. (2013). Mediating cultures: Parenting in intercultural contexts. Lanham, Md: Lexington Books. Shaw-Taylor, Y., & Tuch, S. A. (2007). The Other African Americans: Contemporary African and Caribbean immigrants in the United States. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. Hampton, R. L., Gullotta, T. P., & Ramos, J. M. (2006). Interpersonal violence in the African American community: Evidence-based prevention and treatment practices. New York: Springer. Read More