Joanne W. Golann, Karen Phelan Kozlowski, Kara Mitchell Brennan
Sociological Science August 25, 2026
10.15195/v13.a40
Abstract
Sociological research has long established social class differences in childrearing strategies. However, recent studies suggest more heterogeneity by social class in parenting practices than previously recognized. In this article, we revisit families’ classed socialization processes by drawing from the New Jersey Families Study, a two-week, in-home video study of 21 families with young children, to examine how working-class and middle-class families interact with their children during mealtimes. Contrary to expectations, we found that social class did not neatly correspond to parenting styles, with half of families blending middle-class and working-class styles. This is one of the first sociological studies to closely observe the socialization of young children across different social classes. It is also one of few studies in sociology to use video-ethnographic data. Finally, this study challenges long-standing assumptions about class-based socialization, suggesting that in contemporary families, social class boundaries are much blurrier than previously believed when it comes to childrearing.
Sociological research has long established social class differences in childrearing strategies. However, recent studies suggest more heterogeneity by social class in parenting practices than previously recognized. In this article, we revisit families’ classed socialization processes by drawing from the New Jersey Families Study, a two-week, in-home video study of 21 families with young children, to examine how working-class and middle-class families interact with their children during mealtimes. Contrary to expectations, we found that social class did not neatly correspond to parenting styles, with half of families blending middle-class and working-class styles. This is one of the first sociological studies to closely observe the socialization of young children across different social classes. It is also one of few studies in sociology to use video-ethnographic data. Finally, this study challenges long-standing assumptions about class-based socialization, suggesting that in contemporary families, social class boundaries are much blurrier than previously believed when it comes to childrearing.
 | This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. |
Reproducibility Package: Data are not publicly available due to informed consent agreements. For researchers interested in using the New Jersey Families Study data, please contact Joanne Golann for more information.
- Citation: W. Golann, Joanne, Karen Phelan Kozlowski, Kara Mitchell Brennan. 2026. “Social Class Differences in Parenting? Revisiting Classed Childrearing through a Video-Ethnography of Mealtime” Sociological Science 13: 1046-1078.
- Received: March 5, 2026
- Accepted: July 16, 2026
- Editors: Ari Adut, Elizabeth Bruch
- DOI: 10.15195/v13.a40
I found this article to be especially fascinating. Though I have not done any rigorous analysis, informal surveys I have done with my students about parenting beliefs and discussions with them about parenting practices have not mapped clearly onto social class background. I have been mulling over a trend toward some form of hybridization of parenting logics. As a result of their authors’ interesting methodological design, I think I have to return to thinking more about this topic.