Empowering Mothers to Remedy Educational Inequality in Rural China: A Qualitative Study on Parent-Child Companionship

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 1:30 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Cultivating Community and Empowerment: Supporting Rural Youth and Diverse Identities (Table 4)

Abstract

This qualitative case study investigates a parent-focused intervention program in a rural Chinese village aimed at improving both academic performance and well-being among middle school students. Informed by the concept of parent involvement constitutes a crucial form of social capital, the study explores effective parenting practices, parent-child interaction techniques, and companionship strategies used by five caregivers from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The intervention utilizing parent-child co-participating workshop format, significantly improved students' academic outcomes. It enhanced parents' understanding of child-rearing practices, enabling them to provide effective academic and emotional support for their children despite their limited education.

Authors

• Lin Deng, University of Florida

• Alice Hsun-Fang Hsu, Harvard University