Unequal Childhoods cover art

Unequal Childhoods

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

Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Unequal Childhoods

By: Annette Lareau
Narrated by: Xe Sands
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $39.99

Buy Now for $39.99

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 Discrimination Social justice

Critic Reviews

"A fascinating study." (Malcolm Gladwell)
All stars
Most relevant  
This book provides an in depth account of child development among families with different socioeconomic levels. It is thought-provoking and increases potential understanding of the risk and protective factors of each SES level.

In-depth qualitative research on the influence of socioeconomic levels in child development

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.