Narcissistic Parenting in an Insecure World
A History of Parenting Culture 1920s to Present
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Bristol University Press
Published:6th Jul '16
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£79.99(9781447322559)
In this provocative history of parenting, Harry Hendrick analyses the social and economic reasons behind parenting trends. He shows how broader social changes, including neoliberalism, feminism, the collapse of the social-democratic ideal, and the 'new behaviourism', have led to the rise of the anxious and narcissistic parent. The book charts the shift from the liberal and progressive parenting styles of the 1940s-70s, to the more 'behavioural', punitive and managerial methods of childrearing today, made popular by 'experts' such as Gina Ford and Supernanny Jo Frost, and by New Labour's parent education programmes. This trend, Hendrick argues, is symptomatic of the sour, mean-spirited and vindictive social norms found throughout society today. It undermines the better instincts of parents and, therefore, damages parent-child relations. Instead, he proposes, parents should focus on understanding and helping their children as they work at growing up.
“Hendrick is an academic historian of medicine who pulls no punches in his analysis of the political and economic backcloth to zeitgeists like `authoritative’ parenting, spawned of neo-liberalism and its narcissistic fixation with the self. This intensively-researched, well-written book is in five parts” Professional Social Work magazine.
"Situating historical and social shifts in parenthood, Harry Hendrick’s latest work is meticulously researched, vigorously argued, glitteringly provocative – and sure to spark robust debate." Alan Prout, University of Leeds
"In progressive parenting, children came first. In market liberalism children became subordinate to parental self-interest. How and why is told here absorbingly, from the 1920s to the present." Avner Offer, University of Oxford, author of The Challenge of Affluence.
"A richly contextualised and beautifully crafted book on the history of parenting in Britain and the United States. Hendrick offers a sensitively nuanced appraisal of the past, asks pertinent questions of the present, leaving us with a strong message for the future." Alison Haggett, University of Exeter
ISBN: 9781447322566
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
336 pages