In Henderson et al.'s framing, what behavior characterizes self-surveillance in parenting?

In Henderson et al.'s framing, what behavior characterizes self-surveillance in parenting?

• A. External surveillance by social workers
• B. Mothers observe, talk, criticize, judge and reproach themselves and one another about parenting styles
• C. Government audits of parenting
• D. Media messages only

Answer: (B)

Self-surveillance in parenting is about how mothers continually monitor and regulate their own and other mothers’ parenting through ongoing talk, critique, and judgment, guided by social norms of what makes good mothering. This description captures that internalized, peer-regulated scrutiny, where mothers observe, discuss, criticize, and reproach each other and themselves about parenting styles. It reflects how parenting norms are enforced not by external authorities alone but through daily conversations and self-policing within the mothering community. The other options describe external or externalized influences, not the internalized peer policing at the heart of self-surveillance: social workers’ external monitoring, government audits, or media messages acting as outside sources of control rather than the self- and peer-regulated process central to Henderson et al.’s framing.

Self-surveillance in parenting is about how mothers continually monitor and regulate their own and other mothers’ parenting through ongoing talk, critique, and judgment, guided by social norms of what makes good mothering. This description captures that internalized, peer-regulated scrutiny, where mothers observe, discuss, criticize, and reproach each other and themselves about parenting styles. It reflects how parenting norms are enforced not by external authorities alone but through daily conversations and self-policing within the mothering community.

The other options describe external or externalized influences, not the internalized peer policing at the heart of self-surveillance: social workers’ external monitoring, government audits, or media messages acting as outside sources of control rather than the self- and peer-regulated process central to Henderson et al.’s framing.