Child-rearing practices of two generations of Punjabi parents

Abstract

The major objective of this article is to report the findings of two studies which compare and contrast the early child-rearing practices of two generations of Punjabi parents (1970s and 1990s) living in England. Additionally, the findings are compared with a small group of white mothers to broaden our understanding of the changing patterns of parenting. The data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews from the first generation during the period 1970–73 and from the second generation in 1995. The research perspective adopted is a qualitative one in that variables and procedures for data collection are not rigorously controlled, and the narratives of the mothers are used extensively to illuminate the key areas of early child rearing. The findings show that the second-generation mothers are shedding most of the traditional customs and practices and are moving towards modern British ways.