What is parenting like today compared to the past?

Dr. Lisa Strohschein studies what makes current patterns of parenthood and parenting behaviour different from what happened in the past. For example, she notes that, relative to the 1980s, couples in Canada today become parents at a much later age, want and have fewer children overall and are less likely to be married when they become parents.

Parenting is also different, with parents spending much more time with their children than they did forty years ago. This reflects what has been called the intensification of parenting, where modern parents are expected to oversee their children’s development in every aspect. While the pressure to be a ‘good parent’ can be stressful, there are also benefits to be had. In the past, children were to be seen, but not heard. Things are very different today. Parents want to be present in their children’s lives and actively seek out their children’s perspectives. Thus, unlike the hierarchical structure of families in the past, parent-child relationships today have become more egalitarian. As a result, Canadian parents today are more likely to see parenthood as a source of meaning and personal fulfilment, and have much closer relationships with their children than was the case for previous generations.

Like all sociological research, Lisa’s work contributes to developing a more complete understanding of how our society works, as well as how it is changing and why. “A society is successful when it properly prepares the next generation to inhabit a future that does not yet exist,” says Lisa. “Ultimately, studying how we parent our children reveals what we value most as a society and gives us a glimpse into what our collective future holds.”

Lisa’s work is featured this week in an article by Futurum Careers.

Futurum Careers is a free online resource and magazine aimed at encouraging 14-19-year-olds worldwide to pursue careers in science, tech, engineering, maths, medicine (STEM) and social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy (SHAPE). For more information, teaching resources, and course and career guides, see www.futurumcareers.com