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An exploration of the ‘pushy parent’ label in educational discourse


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Type

Article

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Authors

Beauvais, Clementine 

Abstract

This article explores the ideological function of the derogatory and polemical label of ‘pushy parent’, which, since the 1980s, has been used considerably in journalistic, popular, but also political and academic discourses in the UK and the USA. ‘Pushy parent’ is not a descriptive term, but a conceptually vague and culturally-specific label implying the existence of antagonistic agents intent on optimising their children’s educational attainment. The function of this label is to mask structural inequalities in educational opportunities and outcomes by making those inequalities imputable to individual practices. As such, the ‘pushy parent’ can be interpreted as what Roland Barthes calls an ‘inoculation’: a concept which allows for temporary discharges of indignation at a phenomenon evidencing social inequality, but which avoids a more systemic critique. The article first explores the distinction ‘pushy parenting’ sets up between ‘fake’ and ‘real’ intelligence, and ‘deserved’ and ‘undeserved’ educational achievement. However, as detailed in the second part of the essay, it is very difficult to draw clear conceptual boundaries between the behaviours and practices covered by ‘pushy parenting’, and those covered by the ‘ideal’ parenting practices of neoliberal educational policy. To conclude, the function of the ‘pushy parent’ label as inoculation is explored, as well as its implications for the cultural politics of education.

Description

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Taylor and Francis via http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01596306.2015.1064098

Keywords

parenting, meritocracy, giftedness, education, equality, intelligence

Journal Title

Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0159-6306
1469-3739

Volume Title

Publisher

Informa UK Limited