Parenting in a Rainbow Nation: A South African Perspective on Parenting

Abstract

Parenting has been linked to varying outcomes of child wellbeing and behavior. Prolific research exists in Western countries regarding different parenting styles and practices linked to various outcomes. These are then used as a basis to understand parenting in non-Western countries such as South Africa. With a diversified population of over 50 million, South Africa has a rich socio-political history which has constantly threatened the very existence of the family and parental responsibility and practices. Today, there are new challenges for parents which need to be negotiated in order to have well adjusted children. The limited parenting research in South Africa not only suggests a more positive approach to parenting in general, but that there are similarities and differences to Western research studies as well as differences across cultures.