Poverty and Parenting
Fact/stereotype Essay
5/7/2014
“Poverty and Parenting”
What is a stereotype? A stereotype is a way of thinking or viewing someone based on their race, religion, or beliefs. Many people assume all poor parents are bad parents. This stereotype is simply not true.
The majority of low-income parents today are employed full-time, but they earn hourly wages that are significantly lower than those of a middle class family. In more than half of these low-income families, there are two parents who work outside the home, but the income for these families still falls below the official poverty threshold by over fifty percent. Most of the children in these families are looked at as neglected or deprived. Are they? Due to the inability of these parents to afford certain material items and the long hours they spend at work, many would say these low-income parents are bad parents (Strauss). I strongly disagree and would say that research has proved just the opposite.
One myth about children in low socioeconomic situations is that they are stuck in front of a television; therefore, their parents are inattentive and have no regard for their children well-being (Strauss). A study done recently at the University of Missouri-Columbia analyzed mothers with their children, ranging from ages one to five, engaging in “playtime” activities. “This was a Federal study of the Early Head Start, a nationwide program designed to help… children from low income families” (University). While children in wealthier families are afforded such luxuries as recreational facilities, soccer practice, and band recitals, all poor children might have is a few toys (McKenna). The difference lies in the way the parents interact with their children. The wealthier parents have less time and access to actually be affectionate to their children. Moreover, without soccer practice and band recitals, the poor parents, exhausted from a long day’s work, still find time to get on the floor and play with those few
5/7/2014
“Poverty and Parenting”
What is a stereotype? A stereotype is a way of thinking or viewing someone based on their race, religion, or beliefs. Many people assume all poor parents are bad parents. This stereotype is simply not true.
The majority of low-income parents today are employed full-time, but they earn hourly wages that are significantly lower than those of a middle class family. In more than half of these low-income families, there are two parents who work outside the home, but the income for these families still falls below the official poverty threshold by over fifty percent. Most of the children in these families are looked at as neglected or deprived. Are they? Due to the inability of these parents to afford certain material items and the long hours they spend at work, many would say these low-income parents are bad parents (Strauss). I strongly disagree and would say that research has proved just the opposite.
One myth about children in low socioeconomic situations is that they are stuck in front of a television; therefore, their parents are inattentive and have no regard for their children well-being (Strauss). A study done recently at the University of Missouri-Columbia analyzed mothers with their children, ranging from ages one to five, engaging in “playtime” activities. “This was a Federal study of the Early Head Start, a nationwide program designed to help… children from low income families” (University). While children in wealthier families are afforded such luxuries as recreational facilities, soccer practice, and band recitals, all poor children might have is a few toys (McKenna). The difference lies in the way the parents interact with their children. The wealthier parents have less time and access to actually be affectionate to their children. Moreover, without soccer practice and band recitals, the poor parents, exhausted from a long day’s work, still find time to get on the floor and play with those few
Cited: Helping people234. “Helping Poor People World Wide.” Bing Images. Photograph. 1 Jul. 2011. Web. 8 May 2014. McKenna, Laura. "Explaining Annette Lareau, or, Why Parenting Style Ensures Inequality." The Atlantic 2 Feb. 2012: n. pg. Web. 6 May 2014. Strauss, Valerie. "Five stereotypes about poor families and education." Washington Post 28 Oct. 2013, sec. Answer Sheet: n. pg. Web. 6 May 2014. University of Missouri-Columbia. "Playtime: Affectionate, less controlling mothers have strongest relationships with their children." Science Daily. Science Daily, 4 February 2013. Web. 8 May 2014.