Term of Award

Spring 2024

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Social Sciences (M.A.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Committee Chair

April Schueths

Committee Member 1

Clare Walsh

Committee Member 2

Ted Brimeyer

Abstract

This qualitative research study utilizes Murray Bowen’s Family Systems Theory and Kimberlé Crenshaw’s Intersectionality Theory to examine how ten mothers residing in what is identified as the U.S. Deep South (Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina) perceive affection shown to their children by adults outside of their nuclear family. Additionally, this study considers the influence social class plays in how parents in the Deep South navigate and negotiate social and cultural norms when it comes to affection displays shown to their children. Data was collected using thematic analysis to describe how parents in parts of the Deep South perceive affection shown to their children by adults outside of their nuclear family. Key findings include the following five themes, (1) child protection, all participants conveyed a sharp awareness of potential risks and or dangers when it came to inappropriate boundaries and affectionate interactions with adults outside of their nuclear family; (2) Southern generational differences: Most participants in this study were compelled to challenge the beliefs of their parents, deciding to prioritize child protection and how their children viewed their own bodily autonomy and comfort in affectionate interactions; (3) fear of offending: the findings for this study highlighted the tangled web parents spin when implementing boundaries for their children, positioning personal discomfort with the safeguarding of their child's autonomy, comfort, and safety; (4) intersectional status: the findings in this study expressed the complex ways in which socioeconomic status plays a role in how parent’s living in parts of the Deep South perceive affection shown to their children outside of their nuclear family; (5) ambiguity: the ambiguity by parents on bodily autonomy and affection displays shown to children by adults outside of their nuclear families, underscore the need to further explore this topic.

Research Data and Supplementary Material

Yes

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