Patterns of topic discussion and elaboration related to gender and ethnicity were studied with 66 mothers and their 4-year-old children (Hispanic and Anglo American). Implications of the different patterns of topic selection and discussion for children's subsequent school-related activities and performance are discussed. (SLD)

This study examined ethnic, social class, and gender differences in mothers' and childrens' references to emotions. Eighty working class and middle class Anglo-American and Mexican-American mothers audiotaped conversations with their 4-year olds during car rides. Analyses confirmed the existence of many previously identified patterns of emotion…

Children assumed a subordinate role in conversing with their mothers but created peer conversations similar to those of mothers with other mothers. Data from a second experiment suggested that differences in leadership between mother and child were related to the disparity in relative status of participants rather than to familiarity. (Author/CM)

In this qualitative study, the ways in which four ethnically diverse mothers' perceptions of early childhood education combined with the school experiences of their children were examined. Interviews with the four women, Mexican American, Korean American, African American, and Anglo, were recorded; school experiences were videotaped; and the…

The purpose of this comparison was to examine qualitative differences between male and female occupational aspirations to better understand similarities and/or differences in level of aspiration. Selected samples of students (3,123) and mothers (425) from 2 regional research projects constituted the source of data. Respondents were from low income…

Compared socialization, family, and mental health variables among 231 low socioeconomic status Hispanic and Anglo-American preadolescents and their mothers. Found that Anglo-American mothers, compared to Hispanic mothers, reported less rejection and inconsistent discipline, but also less cohesion. Anglo-American children reported less rejection,…

In 2 studies, the academic expectations of teachers (n=27 to 29 and n=30) for students differing by racial group, gender, socioeconomic status (SES), parental structure, and parenthood were studied. SES and teenage motherhood were the strongest predictors of lower expectations. Higher expectations were reported for middle-class students. (SLD)