Research suggests that harsh disciplinary practices are endemic to Black communities, without a sociohistorical understanding of how some mothers may see stricter discipline as a way to try to protect their children from racialized violence in society. As more studies challenge the narrative that “corporal punishment is a Black thing,” it is important to highlight conscious parenting practices (CPP) as one way that Black mothers integrate their sociopolitical awareness into their parenting practices and develop healthy relationships with their children.
The Black Mothers Conscious Parenting Study set out to explore this topic through survey and interview data.>
Specifically, we:
- examined sociodemographic differences (e.g., social class, religion, and ethnicity) in Black mothers’ race-related beliefs, racial socialization practices, and their parenting practices
- explored Black mothers’ utilization of CPP and how they believed such strategies affected their relationship with their children
This study was funded through a grant from the Society for Research on Child Development.