The Socialization Values of Low-Income Appalachian White and Rural Black Mothers: A Comparative Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the socialization values of low-income white mothers from rural areas of southern Appalachia and lowincome black mothers from rural areas of the southeastern United States. A sample of 579 white mothers and 480 black mothers was interviewed and responded to a 16-item measure of parental values. The parental value choices of these two groups were compared with each other and with the parental value choices of middle-and working-class mothers from an urban area acquired in a previous study. In general, results indicated that both groups of low-income rural mothers selected values that were more conformity-obedience oriented than middle- and working-class mothers from urban environments. However, although evidence existed that the socialization values of low-income mothers was partially a function of socioeconomic standing, other evidence suggested that childrearing values may have resulted from special conditions faced by their respective subcultures and expectations for “success” from the larger social context.