Class and Entitlement

According to case study findings in Unequal Childhoods by Lareau, middle class children are brought up with an emerging sense of entitlement as opposed to working class and poor children who are brought up with an emerging sense of constraint. Middle class childrens lives structured and planned. Their day to day activities are organized and often run by adults. These children become used to adults planning and scheduling their events. They become accoustumed to adults putting their activities ahead of their own. As a result, they come to regard themselves, and their activities, as important.

Middle class children become comfortable with institutions at an early age. Their frequent participation in organized activities also allows them to become comfortable with adults outside of their family. More importantly, these children learn how to manipulate things within the institution in their favor, and in some instances customize situations to their liking and benefit. Learning how to work with adults and people in "control" in addition to customizing situations to their benefit contribute to their emerging sense of entitlement. Furthermore, they learn how to negotiate with adults in order to get what they want.

These children become comfortable voicing their opinions to people in authority in institutionalized settings. They are willing to advocate for what they want because they feel they are owed it. For the majority of their lives, adults have done things for their benefit. Middle class children become used to this behavior and begin to feel that they are special, their opinions matter, they are worthy of adults time, and adults should meet their wishes.

All of these factors contribute to middle class children's emerging sense of entitlement. This sense of entitlement can benefit these children in institutionalized settings because they will be more willing to speak up for what they believe they are owed. Contrary to poor and working class child rearing practices, the middle class child rearing practice can be a challenge for parents as this practice is very time consuming and can lead to more conflicts.