Age, gender and socioeconomic differences in parental socialization preferences in Guyana

Studies of child socialization in the Caribbean are rare and the knowledge of such issues are at best fragmented. This study responds to the need for additional studies of the interactional features of Caribbean families and investigates the cognitive bases of socialization practices in the Caribbean region. Specifically, the study investigates the hierarchy of thirteen socialization values and the factors that differentiate their relative ranking. Using a sample of adults in the greater Georgetown area in Guyana, N=654 and a split ballot quasi-experiment, socialization values preferred for 10 year-old, 13 year-old, and 16 year-old children are described. Though a clear pattern of generalized values emerged, the study uncovered subtle and important gender of child, gender of respondent differences as well as variation along a developmental continuum. Though not consistent as hypothesized, some socio-economic differences were also observed in socialization preferences. The need for further investigation of socialization values and practices are noted.