A new study has come out which aims to classify parenting into four distinct styles. I've never really understood why we have to be grouped according to our system of parenting. Plus, I think that's a pretty ambitious goal, considering most parents I know don't really have one specific style of parenting, but rather they grab from several ones depending on the situation at hand. Nevertheless, I found the study interesting and I was able to identify with one of the groups pretty much instantly–although I think I take from one of the other groups too.
The most amazing thing, for me at least, is how very different each of the four parenting groups are and how they reflect the changing face of the United States.
Read more in ¿Qué más?: I'm actually a pretty bad mom and I'm okay with it
The first group is called the Faithful, which sounds pretty self explanatory to me. Basically, these are people who parent based on religion. Morality is the most important value. The majority of the parents in this group are, not surprisingly, white Republicans with an average education.
The second group is called Engaged Progressives and they parent based on tolerance with personal freedom being the most important value they want to teach their children. The majority–also not surprisingly–are white Democrats who are more educated than average.
The third group is called the Detached, and again, this is pretty self explanatory. These are parents who feel marginalized, are less educated than average, are white Democrats and Republicans and whose most important value is "freedom of retreat," according to the study.
The fourth and final group is called American Dreamers and the majority are minorities: Blacks and Latinos. Being honest about one's feelings and desires is the most important value for them. And while they have relatively low household income and education, they want something completely different for their children and they will do whatever's in their power to make that happen. Sounds like a lot of the Latino families I know…
Image via Kelly Crabtree Photography/flickr
