Les relations entre parents et personnels d’accueil de jeunes enfants. La transmission des normes au prisme des rapports entre classes sociales

Abstract

The relationship between parents and child carers of young children Communicating norms throught social class interrelations Following a year-long investigation on fifty families from wide-ranging social backgrounds, the author examines the relationships between parents and different types of child carers. The analysis brings to light a differential gap between parenting methods, and also identifies the norms that are passed on by different institutions surrounding family life. It also highlights the importance of social class in the way how child carers become involved with families. For example, specific connections are observed among registered pre-school assistants and the intermediary categories between working and middle classes. Privileged, yet less symmetrical, relationships between collective day nurseries and the educated upper class, and domestic employees and the wealthy upper class are outlined. The most precarious percentage of working class is excluded from any other relations with the family and loved ones.