Parenting and social capital: Accessing help and support from informal social networks

Abstract

This paper explores the resources and support that parents in the UK are able to access through their social networks, and analyses how these networks are organized and sustained. Concern over a perceived demise in community relations and trust have driven many recent UK family policy initiatives and have underpinned proposals to increase parenting support services. However drawing on data from the project "Resources in Parenting: Access to Capitals" it will be suggested that parents remain tightly connected to a social network from which they derive help, advice and reassurance. Based on data from 35 in-depth interviews with parents from 24 households across a range of social backgrounds, the paper will provide an insight into the levels of practical, financial and emotional help received by mothers and fathers from family members, friends and acquaintances. Particular attention will be given to significance of gender and class in enabling and delimiting access to various kinds of assistance. In contrast to commonly voiced claims about the fracturing of traditional support systems it will be argued that parenting is characterized by resourceful engagement with a variety of personal and social relationships.U tekstu se ispituju resursi i podrska kojima roditelji u Ujedinjenom Kraljevstvu imaju pristup kroz svoje socijalne mreze i analizira se kako se te mreze organizuju i odrzavaju. Zabrinutost za opadanje poverenja i odnosa u zajednici proizvela je mnoge skorasnje mere politike prema porodici u Ujedinjenom Kraljevstvu i ponukala predloge da se poboljsaju usluge za podrsku roditeljstvu. Medjutim, na osnovu podataka iz projekta "Resursi u roditeljstvu: pristup kapitalima" ukazacemo da roditelji ostaju cvrsto povezani sa socijalnom mrezom iz koje crpu pomoc, savete i sigurnost. Na osnovu podataka iz 35 dubinskih intervjua sa roditeljima iz 24 domacinstva razlicitog drustvenog porekla, u tekstu se daje uvid u nivoe prakticne finansijske i emocionalne pomoci koje majke i ocevi dobijaju od clanova porodice, prijatelja i poznanika. Posebna paznja ce se posvetiti znacaju roda i klase u omogucavanju pristupa razlicitim vidovima pomoci. Nasuprot uobicajenom mnjenju o razbijenosti tradicionalnih sistema podrske dokazivacemo da je roditeljstvo obelezeno angazmanom koji pociva na mnostvu razlicitih licnih i drustvenih odnosa.