Premium
SOCIAL PRISMS: AN INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON OF CHILDREARING MANUALS 1
Author(s) -
Boocock Sarane Spence
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
international journal of japanese sociology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.133
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 1475-6781
pISSN - 0918-7545
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-6781.1999.tb00062.x
Subject(s) - china , convergence (economics) , character (mathematics) , content analysis , set (abstract data type) , sociology , psychology , child rearing , political science , social science , developmental psychology , economic growth , law , economics , geometry , mathematics , computer science , programming language
This paper presents findings from a comparative study of childrearing values and practices in four countries–Japan, People's Republic of China, France, and United States–based upon a content analysis of the ten best‐selling childrearing manuals in each country during the last decade of the twentieth century. A uniform set of procedures was used to classify and analyze the content of the manuals. Selected findings are discussed regarding: (1) management of the child's body and bodily functions: 12) management and shaping of the child's behavior; and (3) roles and role relationships within the family and outside. While cultural differences remain, two general trends emerge from the analysis. One is a trend toward more flexible child care practices and greater sensitivity to the character and needs of the individual child. The second is a convergence of opinion on many aspects of children's upbringing. Global trends that are affecting the production and dissemination of childrearing advice are also discussed.