Oppdragelsessyn i endring? : En komparativ studie av populære oppdragelsesbøker utgitt i Norge i perioden 1950-2000

Abstract

The topic of this assignment is to study if the view of parenting has changed in Norway. There have been many discussions about parenting and what it entails. This study is limited to popular books that have been released in Norway between 1950 and 2000. The parenting books emphasise different aspects in the children’s upbringing and how that positively affects their development. The primary research question is to examine the views of parenting and its development from four books from the selected period: “Barneoppdragelse” by Lise Østlyngen (1950), “Barn og foreldre: barneoppdragelse i praksis” by Hambro & Moa (1966), “Elsker du meg?” by Ross Campbell (1977) and “Ditt kompetente barn” by Jesper Juul (1996). To answer the research question a qualitative comparative analysis and parenting theory by Baumrind has been used. This highlights which parenting aspects the popular books emphasise, compares them and categorises the aspects according to Baumrind's theory. The main findings of the study are that the consensus for desired parenting has remained unchanged. Parents should encourage dialogue, inclusion, participation, acknowledge the childs needs and have a positive, strong relation. The review of the books and their aspects in comparison prove there has been a development in the views of parenting. This shows when comparing the relational aspect of parenting in the book “Barneoppdragelse” by Lise Østlyngen in 1950 and “Ditt kompetente barn” by Jesper Juul in 1996. The concept of dialogue and attention was emphasised in the book “Barneoppdragelse” as it would achieve desired parenting. However the book “Ditt kompetente barn” emphasise cooperation as the most important aspect for best parenting. According to Juul the stronger the relationship between the parents and child, the better the parenting is. Another significant finding is associated with the terms of punishment. Based on the books “Barneoppdragelse”, “Barn og foreldre: barneoppdragelse i praksis” and “Elsker du meg?” the term punishment has been widely used in parenting. During the 1990s with the book “Ditt kompetente barn” the term was changed to parental power. Keywords: parenting/parenting 1950-2000, views of parenting, Baumrind, parenting style, punishment/power, autonomy, recognition and relations