In Lareau’s comparison of a Black working-class family and Black middle-class family, each boy and his mother visits a doctor. Describe how each mother and each child acted during these visits and explain how these behaviors are connected to the attitudes that Lareau’s believes each different environment fosters. Then, consider how these behaviors and attitudes might contribute to difficulties later in life with school, university, professions, internships, etc.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

May include the following:
a. Alexander: mom coached him on the way to the doctor’s, encouraging him to speak up about problems and to respect and trust the doctor’s professional advice by asking the doctor questions. This assertiveness shows an emerging sense of entitlement on the children’s part to engage in adult’s worlds and be respected equally.
b. Harold: mom had head down and didn’t speak much at doctor’s appointment, modeling the same behavior from Harold who did not seem comfortable and answered questions briefly, without elaboration or asking questions of his own. This submissiveness relates to emerging signs of constraint against people in power, in which parents and children are subdued and intimidated in professional settings, yet boisterous in personal settings.