WHEN MOTHERS MATTER - THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL-CLASS AND FAMILY ARRANGEMENTS ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND WHITE WOMENS PERCEIVED RELATIONS WITH THEIR MOTHERS

Previous studies suggest that social class, class background, and soci al mobility have important consequences for family life. Exploring hyp otheses derived from these studies, as well as the literature on inter generational relations, the authors focus an one key aspect of family relations: adultdaughters' ties to their mothers. Analyzing data from the National Survey of Families and Households, the authors explore ho w employed women's relations with their mothers are shaped by race, so cial class memberships and backgrounds and family arrangements Their r esults suggest that social class and mobility exert powerful effects o n women's sense of their relations with their mothers, especially amon g Whites. in addition, however; it is shown that mother-daughter ties among African American and White it omen are also influenced by family arrangements that operate somewhat independently of social class and mobility.