5.04 Child Rearing Patterns

• Introduction
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• Task

Introduction

Caring for children is a universal function of the family, yet the ways in which different societies assign this function to family members can vary significantly. Consider this example: the Nayars culture of southern India acknowledge the biological role of fathers, but the mother's brother is the male responsible for the children. In contrast, uncles normally only play a peripheral role in child care in the United States.

Even within the United States, child-rearing patterns are varied. This lesson takes a look at parenthood and grandparenthood, adoption, dual-income families, single-parent families, and stepfamilies.