Final answer:
Sociologists have found that parenting styles and socio-economic status influence child socialization, with wealthier parents preparing children for white-collar roles through fostering judgment and creativity, while working-class parents endorse obedience and conformity. This perpetuates class distinctions and creates various levels of entitlement in children. Societal factors like improved living standards also contribute to a generalized sense of entitlement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research by sociologists such as Annette Lareau and others has revealed that parenting styles and the socio-economic conditions of families prominently influence the socialization of children. Wealthier parents are focused on cultivating judgment and creativity in their children, paralleling skills needed in white-collar employment, while working-class parents may emphasize obedience and conformity due to their own job requirements of following rules. These practices contribute to the reproduction of the class system, as children inherit the social and economic characteristics of their families, leading to a sense of entitlement or the lack thereof, defining their future social and professional identities.
The disparities in parental approaches extend to the schooling system, where middle and upper classes tend to navigate and confront educational institutions to favor their children's development. This fosters a profound sense of entitlement and an ability to actively engage and shape one's destiny, a characteristic less emphasized in lower-income families who may adhere to authority more passively. Additionally, societal shifts such as the rise in standard of living and government programs have contributed to a broader cultural sense of entitlement, influencing the expectations and behaviors across different classes.