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Motherhood Heather Vazquez February 6, 2022 DPSY-6701 Dr. Chris Susag

The impact of cultural norms correlating with beliefs and values can affect the way that some adults practice parenthood with their children as they became their biggest influencer as they develop. When cultural influences are paired with parenting, it can hinder or benefit a child’s state of mental health. This can lead to attitudes of how parents expect their children to behave in their environment at home and in society. Cultural difference can affect the relationship between child and parent. Some parents raise their children to grow independently and encourage them to assert themselves confidently when speaking. Meanwhile, there are those that raise their children to be reserved as a sign of respect to authority and elders and hold a modest demeanor. Children become molded into the cultures they are born into, conforming to the practices presented by the adults around them. Aside from traditions and values, this process in a child’s development can also mold their moral perspective, holding familial influence toward what they believe is right or wrong. Rather than broadening research toward general parenting, this critical analysis is narrowed down to variations of motherhood specifically. This research holds varying cultural values in parenting based on location, showing how societal influence can impact the way mothers interact with their children and how they are raised in the society they reside in. Sociodemographic Factors Influence Cultural Values: Comparing European American with Korean Mothers and Children in Three Settings—Rural Korea, Urban Korea, and Los Angeles was reported by Heeung Park, Jenna Joo, Blanca Quiroz, and Patricia M. Greenfield (2015), discussing the cultural differences of upholding collectivist and individualist attitudes in various East Asian households. The primary aim of this analysis was unraveling the function of sociodemographic factors. These factors can be broken down into the concepts of heritage and culture and the role immigration holds in shaping individualist or collectivist beliefs of Korean

mothers, how it affects parenthood, and how it impacts their fifth-grade children residing in different areas. The regions supported by this analysis are rural Korea, urban Korea, and Koreatown in Los Angeles. Collectivism as concept values community, fostering interdependence and creating a foundation of hierarchical positions among the group. Because of dependence being a variable within the concept of collectivism, applying this toward parenting can suggest that parents assist children in their development rather than allowing them to be independent. With collectivism being utilized through parenting, children may also be encouraged to share their items, respect authority for the sake of community, while also not fully being encouraged to speak for themselves regarding family affairs. Contrasting, individualism holds values toward personal achievement, with independence being promoted by family. This may suggest that children raised under this concept of parenting are encouraged to express themselves and hold their own opinions rather than silencing it for the sake of community. Unlike collectivism, when this notion is applied to parenting, children are able to take ownerships toward their belongings and praised for their independent attitudes and self-sufficiency apart from their role as children within their family. Through this study, Park et al. (2015), determined that not did location play a factor in a caregiver’s relationship with parenthood, but generational background and education as well. Park et al. (2015), utilized interviews to assess those participating with scenarios and instances in order to determine how their background could potentially impact the way they raise their fifth- grade children. One of the dynamics to consider in this report is to note that those with higher maternal education leaned toward an individualist way of thinking, applying that to their practice

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in parenthood. Those growing within a three-generation household became affiliated with a collectivist practice of parenting. In terms of ethical considerations, it is crucial to note that Park et al. (2015) took heritage culture, immigration, and cultural values into effect when utilizing these reports and interviews. When applying heritage culture in this report, Korea is known for Confucian heritage where the concept behind collectivism has practiced since the 900s. “In Confucianism, the family is considered the model for all other relationships. This family-centered collectivistic value system was adapted to the agrarian environment of its time where formal education was not widely available and three-generation households were beneficial for farming and other subsistence activities” (Park et al., 2015). Because of rapid social change as time furthers, sociodemographic factors are another variable in this report as this can be used as a guide in determining any ethnic differences within cultural ideals. This is especially true due to the research in this report being presented as comparative as the prime focus of the study are varying Korean households in different regions. Additionally, immigration is added to social change regarding these sociodemographic factors as it can enforce ‘cultural freezing’, putting households in a collectivist state, if they are moving from their homeland. Through the design of this report, Park et al. (2015) applied mixed methodology toward their research. Rural participants resided in Yang-Pyeong county which is known for its farming and agriculture, urban participants resided in Incheon Metropolitan City which is close to Seoul (the capital of Korea). “Compared to rural Korean mothers, urban Korean and Korean American mothers tended to be more highly involved in their children’s school lives and were more eager to participate in the study. Rural Korean mothers infrequently visited school due to work

commitments or lack of transportation between home and school. All rural Korean students took the school bus, which was the only method of commute for most of them” (Park et al., 2015). When viewing the report’s procedure with interviewing, it is clear that more ethical matters required consideration within this study. The researchers involved with study had also taken the comfortability and mobility of participants with clear attention, offering familiarity with the testing, offering options such as phone interviews, one on one interviews, group interviews, face to face interviews, and sending the participants’ children forms if their mothers were unable to participate in the interview but intended on doing so. The interviewers also stressed to the participants that answers were subjective, listing that there is no correct or incorrect answer within this procedure and were given consent forms as an allowance for their children to participate in the study. “The procedure of individual interviews was modified for rural Korean children, whose school personnel raised the concern about children’s possible discomfort with being interviewed alone. Following the school’s recommendation, group interviews were conducted with rural Korean children. Steps were taken to ensure procedural compatibility with the other groups of children who were interviewed individually” (Park et al., 2015). The interviewers ensured the safety and cooperation of the participants throughout their procedure in order to conduct the investigation accordingly. By establishing these aspects with their study, the researchers were able to obtain qualitative information through the assessments and interpersonal dilemma scenarios and pairing it with quantitative information to measure the participants’ responses, creating this study through mixed methodology. The scenarios presented to the mothers were those held with

assessments themed around cultural values, introducing them to both collectivist and individualist ideas. The researchers respected the nature of culture by providing non-biased assessments and allowing them to guarantee comfort as a main priority. Through their findings, the researchers applied non-biased assessments to the participants, holding both collectivist and individualist scenarios which they were then asked to answer what they believe the proper conclusion would be. From what the researchers had found, the effect of the Confucian heritage had reinforced the idea that family must be under a collectivistic hierarchy which benefits the group rather than the person. Stated prior, familial values adapting as time furthers remains true for those who no longer hold traditional beliefs. This can suggest that modernization holds this influence toward motherhood and society. “Koreans were no more collectivistic than European Americans in their home values once household differences in sociodemographic factors were taken into consideration. Higher maternal education predicted individualism, whereas living with grandparents predicted collectivism” (Park et al., 2015). Had the researchers decided to intertwine more culture in the sample and assessments provided, the scenarios that were listed in the assessments for the participants could have held more culture significance. One of the ways this could have been done is by noting traditional ways of thinking due to the impact of Confucian heritage. The researchers could have paired this concept with modernization and conclude how it can benefit and hurt varying societies in the long run. If the researchers were given an opportunity to improve on their research, I believe a way to progress this would be through changing the assessments and applying group interviews among the participants.

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The assessments can be changed by applying them to specific demographics of mothers. If the researchers can determine a pattern of parenting in specific regions (rural Korea, urban Korea, Koreatown), they can apply that concept to assessments and interviews. For example, in the case that a pattern of parenting in rural Korea is collectivism, the participants would be taking an assessment suited for individualist scenarios while another region that holds individualist ideals would take a test holding collectivist scenarios. By having these regions assess through a completely foreign style of parenting from their own, this can allow participants to expand their curiosity toward different parenting methods. Once the assessments are completed, a group interview can be arranged so that those with individualist style parenting and those with collectivist style parent can discuss why they believe their style of authority is correct and acknowledge what they believe needs to be improved under households. This creates a positive social change as it is persuading the participants to have an open mind within this discussion as there are various ways to raise a child accordingly. Of course, parents are not perfect, but a group interview to see how they can further progress as caregivers can be utilized within the home as it can better the relationships the participants hold with their children, establishing a trust that goes into adulthood. Another solution that can progress this research is through applying a similar assessment as mentioned prior but involving the kids who have specific whether or not their households have collectivist or individualist ideals. This can shift the research further by displaying how these styles of parenting can hinder or greatly benefit the child’s mental state. Children can share their experiences under these household settings and discuss how it makes them feel. This in turn can cause the participants (their mothers) to reflect on how they parent or research further to see if the practice they hold reflects the child negatively or positively.

Reference: Park, H., Joo, J., Quiroz, B., & Greenfield, P. M. (2015). Sociodemographic factors influence cultural values: comparing European American with Korean mothers and children in three settings-rural Korea, urban Korea, and Los Angeles . Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 46(9), 1131.

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