Reproduction and Infancy

In today's society it is any woman's right be a parent and with today's technology it is possible for almost any woman to have a child. The first successful vitro fertilization was in England in 1978 (Pregnancy with Complications). Now whether the woman is too old to have a child or too young is not anyone's choice to make accept for that woman who wants to have the child. Many woman are chosing to have children later in life because they want to have an established career first or they have different life experiences that they cannot have a child till they are much older. My old boss who, when she had her first child was 37, she and her significant other tried for seven years to have a baby so is she too old? Her significant other turn 51 the year their daughter was born and nobody was saying anything to him. Why is it that its ok for a man to be in his fifties and sixties and father a child but if a woman does it people think she is crazy?

There are many factors that go into parenting, for example how you chose to discipline or if you should send your child to daycare so that they can interact with other children and learn social skills. Many people have to send their child to daycare so that they can work but heres the thing, daycare is costly and if you don't make enough to cover the cost but yet you just fall short for assistance through the government how is the parent going to be able to work and make sure their child is taken care of? Some people are lucky and have family around that can help out but there are people who do not have that option especially if there family is out of state.

I think that parents today have a lot more to worry about when it comes to there child because there is so much out there with the media and internet its easy for kids to get access to whatever they want. Parenting is the most difficult but yet rewarding job around.

Anyone can be a parent it is the chose that you make that you want to see your child succeed in life and be extrordinary.

1. Is there an appropriate age for a woman to have a child?
2. Would it be possible in the future with the way technology is going that a man could have a baby and would it be socially acceptable?

Youth! Nothing but Trouble!

In todays society when you hear the word youth we usually associate it with terms like trouble, no good, lazy, deviant, or out of control. Society today has such a negative outlook on our youth today and are doing nothing but adding to the problem. We have so many rules and regulations for youth and the notion that all are deviant and can contribute nothing to our productive society but havic. When in reality youth act out because they want to be noticed and whats the best way to be noticed than breaking the norms of society. We never look at the good that our youth are doing today. We always focus on the negative. For example the high teen pregnancy rate or the crime rate raising amoung teens. In the 80's the labeled a type of music that youth listened to as "killer music" because it was asscoiated with raves. Why do we always look at our youth as a negative thing. They are going through the same changes in life as everyone else is just at a harder period. Youth also have the burden of school in their lives. If they aren't going to persue higher education they are looked down upon and seen as letting down society. They have so many expectations to look up to that if they don't meet them they are seen as "troubled". No matter what our youth do they are always going to be looked down upon because of our societies notion of all youth are "troubled" because thats how the media portrays them.

Question 1: When you hear the word youth what do you think of?
Question 2: Why does society only highlight the troubles of youth and not the positives?

What do you think when you hear the word youth?

Many people believe that youth is a temporary time that children sure difficult and do not understand the norms of life. Many people believe that youth is a time for kids to act out and defy authority. The fact is that everyone at this time of their lives go through a period of change that include physical and psychological needs. Children need to go through this time period with understanding of learning to develop relationships with friends and family. In this period of high changes youth are commonly precived as misbehaving and disrespectful. In all reality children go through these changes to develop own self idenity. Most youth develop a self knowledge of how they want to be or who they want to be. They start developing responsability and knowledge of how they want their lives to be. This time period to most, is a difficult to deal with a teenager, but in fact how you deal with your children at this time of their lives is very critical in their development. Youth also start to develop more of an intamate relationship with their signifant others. I'm not referring to a sexual relationship, but more on the issues of relationships that are more emotionally attached. They start to understand what attracts them to other people and what does not. This is important for youth to understand because they start to understand the importance of developing these types of relationships. Some believe that it is not important for children of this age to develop these "types" of relationships, but I believe that at this time youth should know developing these types of relationships is something that everyone does at different times in their life. I also believe that not many children at this age find their one true love, but the people they get to know on these emotional levels help them develop the self knowledge of themselves and others.

Discussion Questions:
1) When is it socially expected that youth should have a girlfriend/boyfriend

2) Should parents let their children date below the age of eighteen, and how does that affect the child's ability to develop understandings of building relationships with other peers.

The Mid-Term Practice Exam

Mid-Term Practice Exam
Sociology of Life Cycles, SOC 390, Section 001
Tuesday/Thursday 2:00 – 3:15 pm – Spring 2009
Dr. Rhonda Matthews
DUE TUESDAY – MARCH 3RD @ 2:PM

GUIDELINES
Use a theoretical perspective in the response.
Use the text, and reference it, at least once in your response.
Please feel free to discuss the question with each other. It is the best way to understand the subject matter. However, do not write your answer together, as this increases the likelihood that you will unintentionally plagiarize each others’ work.
Type your responses! And place the question above your response.
Email your question by 2 pm, Tuesday, March 3rd. Feel free to email it early.
I will not answer once I have handed out the exam. You may, however, ask for clarification.
Do not ask questions in your response. Answer them. Remember, you are the expert here.
Don’t bullshit me. I really hate it.
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In U.S. society, when confronted with what is generally considered to be poor parenting, the following remark is often made “You have to get a license to drive, but any idiot can have a baby.” This statement references the ubiquitous presence of sex in our society as well as the expectation that people actually become parents & use their “parental instincts” and “common sense” to rear their children. In sociology it is understood that neither of these concepts actually exist in the real world. These axioms have been tested lately by the advent of fertility technology and the rise in old women having babies, as well as the increase of women having litters of babies.

Given these social facts, thoroughly discuss the juxtaposition of ideal expectations of parenthood and the social realities that parenthood often brings. Be sure to include at least one theorist’s discussion of the impact of social interaction on the development of identity, as well as the impact of gender on these social interactions.

Experience is the Best Teacher

Recently, I had a man come up to me and begin talking to me about how he would become a father later this year. This was interesting to me because this man has never been around babies throughout his life. I asked if he was excited and what he was doing to prepare for the arrival of his child. He proceeded to tell me of how he bought a book and began to read it. The first thought that popped into my head was "oh no."
The book he had been reading had told him that he and the baby's mother and everyone who would be around the baby had to do everything the same. The book was talking about everything from picking the baby up to changing it to anything you can think of that would have anything to do with the baby. If things were not done the same with the baby, it would cause the baby to have emotional distress (according to the book). At this, I laughed. I applaud his effort in choosing to learn how to care for his child but to me, this book was absurd.
I, on the other hand, have been around children and babies my entire life. To me experience in caring for infants and children is the best teacher. You can't learn any of that from a book. You can get ideas and helpful hints but something that may work for one person probably isn't going to work for everyone.
Don't get me wrong, I think that books can be helpful in many ways but don't take them as the only truth. There are many other thoughts and ideas that should be taken into account. When having and raising a child, find what works for you.

Effects of Divorce on Childhood

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/children_divorce.htm

As society and cultural norms change, the divorce rate continues to rise. Children as well as parents, feel the effects of divorce. This is one of the childhood issues that millions of individuals face while growing up. It is shown that children who come from divorced families are more likely to experience poor coping skills, less intimate relationships, behavior problems, and greater risk for depression or anxiety. All though some experts disagree on the negative effects divorce can leave, none will say it is easy. How do you explain to your children the concept of mommy and daddy no longer living together?

“For kids, divorce means the loss of a parent and the loss of life as they know it. Even though both parents remain physically present, a child’s sense of stability is upset because the family unit is broken apart (Helpguide.org).” Do you sugarcoat the truth to protect your children or tell them straightforward the reasons for divorce? Most recommend considering the child’s age and maturity level, but it is easier said than done. It is important to remember to reassure children that it isn’t their fault and that it is between mom and dad.

“Helping Children Understand Divorce” from University of Missouri discusses a list of wants a child requests from their mom and dad. Receiving support when problems arise, communicating directly with the other parent, allowing time spent with each parent, and staying involved in the child’s life are typical things children want after divorce.

It is comforting to know that there is ton of extra support available for children dealing with these issues. The break up of the family unit has consequences that affect each child differently. It is difficult to determine how children will develop and continue through life after divorce.


Discussion Questions:

1. Should parents stay together for the sake of their children?

2. What is your viewpoint on the negative effects divorce can have on children.

Childhood Issues

Childhood research shows determines our personalities and pretty much the type of person we become. There are many influences that impact us i.e. our parents, society, peers; they all play a role in shaping our lives and especially our childhood. During childhood I feel that children go through so much pressure to conform to the standards their parents and society have set for them to act in their gender roles. I personally don’t see the problem with a boy playing with dolls (it’s not going to make him a homosexual). I think that fathers especially put pressures on their sons from birth to act like a man, suck it up and they do not allow room for their child to develop how they want. I believe it’s true that fathers treat their daughters differently. Fathers tend to treat girls in the stereotypical princess way. I applaud fathers who treat their children the same regardless of gender roles. I tend to disagree with this statement, “There is greater pressure for boys to conform to traditional male roles than for girls to conform to traditional female roles.” If anything I think that the pressure is somewhat equal or a little greater for females to conform to traditional roles. As we have discussed in class and through some of the exercises we have done there is still a stereotypical view of a female, we all know what those are. Having these pressures for both females and males since childhood can affect the person we become in later adulthood. From childhood “Children who play in sex-appropriate activities are more likely to be rewarded by peers and children who play in cross-sex activities are more likely to be criticized.” This statement goes back to what I previously stated that children are taught at an early age what their gender roles are. What we need understand is how our childhood has shaped us and that will determine how we raise our children and who knows the cycle of stereotypes just might continue.

Which Parent is the BEST?

In modern American society, there are children being brought up in so many different ways. There are parenting styles, such as Baumrind's authoritarian, authoritative, neglectful and indulgent parenting, but these certainly are not all that matter when raising a child. Types of families come into play as well, such as a single-mother family, single-father family, nuclear family, families with step-parents, same-sex parents, children being raised by grandparents, and so on. Institutions also play a vital role. Where is the child going to school? Some people prefer private schools to public schools. Some people would like to send their children to private schooling, but it can be quite costly. Cathedral Prep High School and Villa Maria Academy cost over $6,000 annually. Many people do not have the financial means for that. Recently there have been more charter schools being created. Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy is an excellent example. Some of the smartest students in Erie attend Collegiate Academy and receive an outstanding education, and this is all for free!

With all that is mentioned above, what type of parent is the best? Which type of family? And to which school should the parents send their child? I believe that there is more than one right answer to all of these. One might believe that the nuclear family using an authoritative parenting style that has some money would be ideal, but there aren't too many of these today in America. 

Not everyone is vastly blessed, so each parent should just accept who they are and what they have and raise their child in the best way possible. Love is crucial to raising any child. And some things that a child could certainly do without are abuse, whether emotional or physical, and neglect. A child is such a precious being, and their socialization process lies heavily on the parent(s).  

"I didn't know, that I could ever love anyone this much."  -Sophia in Pregnant With Complications about her son. 

 "We are all born for love...it is the principle existence and it's only end." -Benjamin Disraeli

Discussion Questions:

1. All things considered, shouldn't it be possible that any parent, whether single, divorced, married, gay or lesbian could raise a child to be an excellent adult? 

2. Are two loving gay parents enough for the child? Consider how many children are being raised by single-parents, which is over 25% according to a U.S. Census Bureau Report.

3. Do you think public or private schools are better for the education of your child? And why? 

Litters & Litters & Litters of Babies

Nadya Suleman. This name will live in infamy, all because she wanted to be a mom -- a lot.

I am of two minds regarding this mother of octuplets. On the one hand whenever I think of her, I think, with a violent shudder, "Ugh!." In fairness, I think this of all women who have litters of babies. On the other hand, however, I have a rising sense of anger with the ways in which this woman has been depicted in various media. The commentary has been extraordinarily uncritical. Yes, she is a single mom. No, she doesn't seem to have remunerative employment. Yes, she seems slightly, well a little more than slightly, unhinged. But in what ways does she differ from Michelle Duggar , the human brood mare featured on TLC's so-called reality show 17 Kids & Counting? In what way does she differ from Kate Gosselin? She is the mother of sextuplets and star of the so-called reality show Jon & Kate Plus 8. The most obvious social fact is that Ms. Suleman is not married, but the more insidious social determinant, the one that seems to be driving the majority of the prejudiced discussions, is the fact that she is not middle class or above.

The commentary has been nothing, if not predictable. "If she already had 6 children, why would need more?" "She's not even married." "She doesn't have a job," "She's irresponsible," etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. These criticisms have reached crescendo. Above the din, I find myself asking this one persistent cultural question: "Isn't she only acting out the cultural imperative for women to be mothers? And if so, what is it about this particular woman, that has raised the ire of feminists and anti-choice people alike?"

Our society says to women that unless we become mothers, our lives are essentially meaningless. Once we become mothers, we are expected to make definitive, declarative statements about the superiority of motherhood to all other endeavors in life. When women make social and personal statements about the realities of motherhood, she is often given subtle negative sanctions. Women who do not to have children are suspect, unless it is discovered that they have biological fertility issues, in which case, they become pitiable. Nadya Suleman, Michelle Duggar, Kate Gosselin and many others, are living, breathing, breeding embodiments of this cultural, reproductive imperative. Yet, Ms. Suleman receives chastisement (at best) while the Duggars & Gosselins received lucrative contracts to chronicle and display portions of their lives in the media.

Though I am a strong proponent of taking women and men out of old, tired, unproductive gender role patterns, I find myself more angry with the hypocrisy of those who criticize her than I find myself being angry with her. Though I do believe her to be unduly focused on "becoming a mother," when I think about her situation in the most objective way that I can, I wonder how different her single-minded drive to be a mother is any different than the single-minded drive of a person who forgoes creating a family in favor of a career that they love.

Other questions that cross my mind include, where are the religious right, anti-choice people to defend her? It seems that Ms. Suleman would be a person that they would champion for her decision to "be fruitful and multiply." Where are media supporters -- the ones who want to tell her story? Mostly, those voices have been negative. Why is there criticism of her doctor? In a society in which the free market is supposed to reign and any way in which people can make money is acceptable, why is he criticized? This seems a stunning contradiction of our core U.S. value of science and progress. Would he have been criticized if we found out that he had helped Jim Duggar overcome infertility, only to go on and sire 18 children? the double standards are legion.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/10/octuplet-mom-nadya-sulema_n_165508.html

Discussion Questions
1. In an analysis of the media coverage of Nadya Suleman's pregnancy and childbirth, explain the socio-cultural messages presented using at least one, no more than two theories.

2. Compare and contrast Nadya Suleman's situation with that of Kate Gosselin and Michelle Duggar.

3. Using three major points, address the role of gender and media in the development of a public persona of Ms. Suleman and the public's response to her.

Your Parent's Type

There are four basic parenting styles that we associate with different aspects of children's development, thanks to Baumrind. You never really look into what "type" your parents are. I never knew about the different types/styles, until my freshmen year of college. Where I took Psychology 101 and learn the four types of parenting styles.
Which are:Authoritarian parents are highly demanding and directive, but not responsive. "They are obedience- and status-oriented, and expect their orders to be obeyed without explanation" (Baumrind, 1991, p. 62). These parents provide well-ordered and structured environments with clearly stated rules. Authoritative parents are both demanding and responsive. "They monitor and impart clear standards for their children’s conduct. They are assertive, but not intrusive and restrictive. Their disciplinary methods are supportive, rather than punitive. They want their children to be assertive as well as socially responsible, and self-regulated as well as cooperative" (Baumrind, 1991, p. 6 Neglectful parents are low in both responsiveness and demandingness. In extreme cases, this parenting style might encompass both rejecting–neglecting and neglectful parents, although most parents of this type fall within the normal range. Indulgent parents (also referred to as "permissive" or "non directive") "are more responsive than they are demanding. They are nontraditional and lenient, do not require mature behavior, allow considerable self-regulation, and avoid confrontation" (Baumrind, 1991, p. 62). This is just a brief description of the types.
I believe now as we are adults we can look back on our own parents and apply types. It is also to see how your parents are together and how they are suppose to work together to raise you. An they both can be two different styles, that are total opposite. The types explain a lot in why you may ask one parent over the other parent. I believe your parents' style plays a large factor into your own parenting style. It can either have a negative effect: I will not be like my parents; or positive effect: I want to be like my parents.


1) What type of parenting style was/are your parents? An discuss a few examples of each parent's style.

2) What is the line between Authoritarian and Authoritative parenting?

Parenting: A Blessing or a Burden?

Obviously, there wouldn’t be a life cycle if it weren’t for parenting or rearing children. However, raising a child isn’t for everyone, and I often wonder what I would do if I was in a situation facing having a child. Basically, I believe that from conception children suck the life out of parents from the womb and even to the tomb. A study by Florida State University professor Robin Simon and Vanderbilt University's Ranae Evenson found that parents have significantly higher levels of depression than adults who do not have children. And, this depression often lasts after the child is grown up. The findings do not mean that parents don't find any pleasure in their roles; it's just that the emotional costs can outweigh the psychological benefits. "It's how we do parenting in this society," Simon said. "We do it in a very isolated way and everything is on us as individuals to get it right. Our successes are our own, but so are our failures. It's emotionally draining."
So let’s say the pros outweigh the cons and you decide to have a baby. Let’s hope you haven’t been ballin too hard since college because a kid is going to cost you. In 2004 (not including what it would cost in the 2009 economy!) The cost for a middle class couple to care for a child from birth to age 17 was $184,320 (that doesn’t include college!). This is a rough estimate of course, and it doesn’t include other money you lose on things like giving up a career to care for it, or even if you don’t there’s childcare. Yes folks, let’s not forget that the U.S. national average for full time day care is $611 a month, but in really good facilities and big cities it can be as high as 300+ per week.
Well, the fate of the world’s population depends on us to reproduce, so eventually despite these facts most of us are going to have children (I suppose there is that list of good things like fulfillment, love, togetherness, and all that stuff). Next, you have to decide how you want to raise this child, and there are many parenting styles and depending on which you choose will determine what your child grows up to be like. Above any of these styles, I think it is the way the child is socialized determines the personality (so there are no “bad” kids, it’s all on how the parents raise them). For example if you raise your voice, are aggressive, or use bad manners around your child, they are going to turn out that way.


1) Do you think the sacrifices are worth the fulfillment of a child? If we didn't have to reproduce would the majory of people still choose to?

2)Which of the 4 parenting styles presented by Baumrind is the most efficient for raising a child?

Corporal Punishment or Just Discipline?

In our society today is it really that terrible to spank your child? Some believe spanking is a necessary component of raising children, however it's only legitimate when used in the right manner. Parenting styles are different in other cultures, but the ideology of spanking will remain infused in our lives. This form of punishment has been taught throughout generations. Even though there have been few research studies done on the effects of spanking on children, it has been proven that it causes some disobedience. But isn't that what we don't want?

I have been spanked since I was a little girl but before that, I was put in time out. I always knew this form of punishment would do nothing about my behavior and it never seemed to be effective enough. If spanking was the only form of punishment that helped parents gain control of their children, and it was taken away, wouldn't they become so out of control that they would be unstoppable? People would be calling children services more than they do now! The only time I ever listened to my parents, did what I was told or kept out of trouble was if I was spanked because of my actions previously. Some say that spanking children teaches them to be afraid and only generates more hatred because of the humiliation. This may cause some problems with the child. If the parent is angry toward the child and gets spanked, then as soon as the child becomes angry, he/she will become violent. I do not believe this is the case at all. I believe under certain circumstances, spanking is an acceptable punishment. BUT, time outs are a joke and don't do anything for helping children grow up knowing what's right or wrong. According to CNN news, last year more than 200,000 children were spanked at school. Some people interviewed for this believe that they were just disciplinary measures that needed to be taken. But if that many children are being spanked every year in schools alone, is it really that awful? As I said previously, I was spanked ever since I was a child, and I never suffered from any antisocial behaviors. I also never thought of my parents as being abusive towards me. I think interactions between the family members and the children need to be assessed before even considering spanking as being child abuse.



Discussion questions:

1.) Is spanking a form of corporal punishment?

2.) Do you think spanking should be avoided? Does this cause more violence in the family?

3.) Do you think spanking is a form of child abuse?