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Unequal Childhoods

Class, Race, and Family Life, Second Edition, with an Update a Decade Later

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About this listen

Class does make a difference in the lives and futures of American children. Drawing on in-depth observations of black and white middle-class, working-class, and poor families, Unequal Childhoods explores this fact, offering a picture of childhood today. Here are the frenetic families managing their children's hectic schedules of "leisure" activities; and here are families with plenty of time but little economic security. Lareau shows how middle-class parents, whether black or white, engage in a process of "concerted cultivation" designed to draw out children's talents and skills, while working-class and poor families rely on "the accomplishment of natural growth," in which a child's development unfolds spontaneously-as long as basic comfort, food, and shelter are provided.

©2003; revised 2011 Annette Lareau (P)2011 Tantor Americas Anthropology Children's Studies Poverty & Homelessness Racism & Discrimination Social Sciences Sociology

Critic reviews

"A fascinating study." (Malcolm Gladwell)
All stars
Most relevant
One of the most interesting books I have ever listened to. I should say that the research backs up various realities that we suspect exist and directly shows how social class influences the upbringing and outcomes of children.

Absolutely fascinating.

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