The child-rearing values of Asian and British parents and young people: an inter-ethnic and inter-generational comparison in the evaluation of Kohn's 13 qualities

Abstract

As part of a larger survey concerned with attitudes and experiences of two generations of Asian-British and of native white British, respondents were asked to rate the three most desirable of Kohn's (1969) 13 values in child rearing. Sampling in urban areas with large Asian populations provided a total sample of relatively homogeneous socio-economic status; thus, the class comparisons which informed Kohn's original thesis were less relevant. Comparisons were made on the basis of generation and of ethnicity. It was found that Asians value conformity more and self-direction less than the British, and that this difference is considerably more pronounced in the older than in the younger generation. Extent of traditionalism in family processes was related to evaluations. For Asian young people only, extent of assimilation with British life was related to evaluation made.