Parenting and social capital: Accessing help and support from informal social networks

This paper explores the resources and support that parents in the UK are able to access through their social networks, and analyses how these networks are organized and sustained. Concern over a perceived demise in community relations and trust have driven many recent UK family policy initiatives an...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Gillies Val
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociological Scientific Society of Serbia 2004-01-01
Series:Sociologija
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0038-0318/2004/0038-03180403245G.pdf
_version_ 1818515123473481728
author Gillies Val
author_facet Gillies Val
author_sort Gillies Val
collection DOAJ
description This paper explores the resources and support that parents in the UK are able to access through their social networks, and analyses how these networks are organized and sustained. Concern over a perceived demise in community relations and trust have driven many recent UK family policy initiatives and have underpinned proposals to increase parenting support services. However drawing on data from the project "Resources in Parenting: Access to Capitals" it will be suggested that parents remain tightly connected to a social network from which they derive help, advice and reassurance. Based on data from 35 in-depth interviews with parents from 24 households across a range of social backgrounds, the paper will provide an insight into the levels of practical, financial and emotional help received by mothers and fathers from family members, friends and acquaintances. Particular attention will be given to significance of gender and class in enabling and delimiting access to various kinds of assistance. In contrast to commonly voiced claims about the fracturing of traditional support systems it will be argued that parenting is characterized by resourceful engagement with a variety of personal and social relationships.
first_indexed 2024-12-11T00:24:52Z
format Article
id doaj.art-3d9eb55a307b431cb174fa7e07f07234
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0038-0318
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-11T00:24:52Z
publishDate 2004-01-01
publisher Sociological Scientific Society of Serbia
record_format Article
series Sociologija
spelling doaj.art-3d9eb55a307b431cb174fa7e07f072342022-12-22T01:27:35ZengSociological Scientific Society of SerbiaSociologija0038-03182004-01-0146324525810.2298/SOC0403245GParenting and social capital: Accessing help and support from informal social networksGillies ValThis paper explores the resources and support that parents in the UK are able to access through their social networks, and analyses how these networks are organized and sustained. Concern over a perceived demise in community relations and trust have driven many recent UK family policy initiatives and have underpinned proposals to increase parenting support services. However drawing on data from the project "Resources in Parenting: Access to Capitals" it will be suggested that parents remain tightly connected to a social network from which they derive help, advice and reassurance. Based on data from 35 in-depth interviews with parents from 24 households across a range of social backgrounds, the paper will provide an insight into the levels of practical, financial and emotional help received by mothers and fathers from family members, friends and acquaintances. Particular attention will be given to significance of gender and class in enabling and delimiting access to various kinds of assistance. In contrast to commonly voiced claims about the fracturing of traditional support systems it will be argued that parenting is characterized by resourceful engagement with a variety of personal and social relationships.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0038-0318/2004/0038-03180403245G.pdfsocial capitalparentingsupportsocial networksresources
spellingShingle Gillies Val
Parenting and social capital: Accessing help and support from informal social networks
Sociologija
social capital
parenting
support
social networks
resources
title Parenting and social capital: Accessing help and support from informal social networks
title_full Parenting and social capital: Accessing help and support from informal social networks
title_fullStr Parenting and social capital: Accessing help and support from informal social networks
title_full_unstemmed Parenting and social capital: Accessing help and support from informal social networks
title_short Parenting and social capital: Accessing help and support from informal social networks
title_sort parenting and social capital accessing help and support from informal social networks
topic social capital
parenting
support
social networks
resources
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0038-0318/2004/0038-03180403245G.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT gilliesval parentingandsocialcapitalaccessinghelpandsupportfrominformalsocialnetworks