NCJ Number
117489
Journal
Ethos Volume: 16 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1988) Pages: 355-370
Date Published
1988
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Observations of 24 households in Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India over a period of 2 years provided data for an analysis on children's chores and other kinds of preparation for adult status and sex roles in different castes and socioeconomic groups.
Abstract
Timed observations of interactions between children and mothers or mother surrogates provided 16 hours of behavioral information for each household. The observations focused on children from birth to 10 years of age. The households ranged in size from 5 to 23 members and represented both nuclear families and joint structural types. The households had an average of 5.4 children per family. Findings showed that children performed a variety of responsible acts, which varied with socioeconomic status and gender. The children's chores were directly associated with mothers' workloads, which were correlated with caste and class status. Those in households of higher status performed fewer instrumental chores and more behaviors associated with studiousness and hospitality. The behaviors also suggested future sex roles. Tables, figure, notes, and 12 references.