My Garden of Thoughts: Reflection #7--Putting Parenting into Perspective

 

    In the article by Beth A. Kotchick and Rex Forehand, the authors focused on discussing how outside factors have significant influence on family systems. They believed that not enough research existed in regards to making sure education programs for parents were well-rounded. In their article they stated that the purpose of their paper was "to discuss how factors outside the family, such as community risks and resources, neighborhood quality, poverty, and cultural or ethnic back-ground, may shape parenting beliefs and behavior" (pg. 256). To remedy this problem, they decided to outline a template to start a dialogue surrounding the situational and circumstance of parenting so research on this topic could better incorporate an "awareness of, and a willingness to attend to, the broader social context in which parting occurs" (pg. 256). 

   First, Kotchick and Forehand discussed the factor of the previous focus of literature researching parenting practices. They stated that the studies generally fixated on parenting styles that included positive reinforcement, outward displays of warm affection, and active involvement in the child's life events. These strategies were assumed to have the maximum positive affect on a child's mental and psychosocial adjustment "including academic competence, high self-esteem, positive peer relations, and fewer child behavior problems" (pg. 255). However, these studies didn't paint the entire picture when it came to developing parenting practices. In fact, many other sources have been show to affect and influence parenting techniques. Research cannot carry on without looking into these other outside factors and assuming that families "live in a vacuum" (pg. 256). Without sufficient research that focuses on how parenting styles develop out of other determinants, such as ethnicity or neighborhood communities, then Parent Educators will be unable to form programs that give parents access to efficient and relevant tools that develop their skills. 

I liked the specific focus on Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems model throughout the article. When I learned about this model in other previous classes, I could tell that it offered a broader picture of the factors that impact a child's development. What I didn't notice before was how it also points to the factors that parents must deal with too when raising their children. When I think back on my upbringing, I can clearly see how things like the church we went to, my neighborhood, and my American heritage all molded and shaped who I became and how my parents disciplined and reared me. Because we grew up in a safe, rural neighborhood, my parents didn't have to focus on sheltering me constantly from any danger or traumatic events that might have been taking place in my community. They were able to focus on having a warmer approach in parenting rather than a strict one. I also was able to go to a good public school that offered more programs and learning opportunities than other schools in smaller towns. The church that my family went to shaped the way my parents believed they should treat children and discipline them. They believed that children were to be given affection and genuine love, but also be taught how to respect authority and contribute to society. In addition to all of this, my American heritage gave me ability to view symbolic things, like freedom and diversity, in a different way than children do in other countries. I was given the advantage of growing up in a society that believes everyone has equal rights to opportunity that I know is not common for others to experience. Because of these factors, my parents developed a parenting style that is unique to our environment. 

    In my future career as a counselor, I am going to make it a priority to decipher and learn about each client's upbringing and history. This can provide a lot of clues about why their parents might have instilled certain values in them, or disciplined them in certain ways. I think this article also showed me that sometimes other parenting styles work better in different cultural situations. When assessing other cultures ways of parenting, I need to make sure I am looking at the whole system that the family is apart of, rather than just their present issues and concerns.

- E.