Annette Lareau, Unequal Childhoods “Children grow up within a broad, highly stratified social system.” Sociologists conceptualize class in terms of categories or gradations. \ Sociology 1201

Week Eight: Annette Lareau—Unequal Childhoods Research basis: Intensive Observation by herself and her graduate students of 12 families, half black and half white, and each category also divided by social class. About 20 hours per family over a period of several weeks. “Treat us like the family dog.” Sociology 1201

Social Movement DFN: Group of people organizing to promote (or sometimes resist) change in society using means that are at least partly unconventional (outside the norms) Strategy of those who have little institutional power Always invokes powerful opposition High risk Sociology 1201

1st Wave of Feminism Late 19th and early 20th century Basic legal and voting rights Marching, picketing, being jailed 1920: Constitutional Amendment giving women the right to vote Sociology 1201

Second Wave of Feminism Late 1960s and early 1970s Basic contention that the sex roles idealized in the 1950s were unfair and arbitrary—a form of oppression Consciousness-raising groups “The personal is the political.” Equal Rights Amendment passed Congress in 1971 but fell 3 states short of being ratified Sociology 1201

Effects on American women’s consciousness 1962: 2/3 of women responding to Gallup poll denied every being treated unequally based on sex 1970: 50/50 1974: 2/3 reported unequal treatment Were things getting worse—or was consciousness changing? Sociology 1201

2 distinct viewpoints about family Women, like men, should put major energy into careers, with family involvement taking less hours (The Time Bind) Men, like women, should put major energy into family and home, accepting a reduced standard of work achievement. (Halving It All) Sociology 1201