social class — Parenthood PhD

"It's Not Fair"

"It's not fair."

If you spend time with kids, you probably hear those words a lot. And for adults, it's easy to respond with "Life isn't fair." But if your kid is growing up with privilege, that response is problematic. Here’s why…

academia on parentingJessica CalarcoMarch 18, 2019privilege, parents, fairness, college, social class, race, preschool

"Whole Milk or Two-Percent?" Mommy Shaming in the Doctor's Office

Last week, I took my son to the doctor for his 15-month check-up. I tried to keep my son entertained while the nurse went through the standard battery of questions, marking my answers on her laptop…

academia on parentingJessica CalarcoOctober 23, 2018healthcare, doctors, race, social class, nutrition, children, parents, stigma

Backpacks Full of Privilege

It’s that time of year again. Parents are frantically checking supply lists and packing their children’s backpacks for school. But pencils and notebooks and glue sticks aren’t the only things parents send from home. Rather, parents—or at least affluent, white parents—also send their children with strategies for securing unfair advantages in school….

parenting in academia and academia on parenting