AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON PARENTING - SOCIAL-CHANGE AND SOCIAL CONSTRUCTS

Three general areas of research and social concern pertaining to paren ting are discussed within an international perspective focusing on rec ent social changes as well as on constructs of parenting. First, I cri tique ideological biases arising out of a particular Western definitio n of parenting-in this case, mothering-that affect research paradigms. This critique is then expanded by linking it to current international social changes in order to offer a glimpse into areas of parenting th at could be addressed empirically. And, third, consideration of socioe conomic changes and up-heavals leads to the suggestion that the experi ence of parenting may become more difficult in the near future in most countries of the world. This discussion is informed by a critical ana lysis based on perspectives that view childhood, and hence parenting, as social constructs evolving with sociohistorical changes.