The Architect of Kinship: A Sociological Analysis of Maternal Influence on Children’s Attitudes toward Extended Family Members

Abstract

This study provides a sociological exploration of how mothers act as the primary agents of socialization in shaping children’s attitudes toward extended family members. In collectivist societies like Pakistan, the maternal role is pivotal in transmitting cultural norms, emotional orientations, and behavioral expectations regarding kinship ties beyond the nuclear unit. Adopting a qualitative research design, the study utilized in-depth interviews with forty participants from District Bhakkar, Jhang, Layyah and Mianwali, ensuring a diverse demographic representation. The findings indicate that mothers shape these attitudes through storytelling, behavioral modeling, and acting as emotional gatekeepers. However, the study also highlights the "emotional labour" and stress mothers endure due to gendered expectations in maintaining family harmony. This research underscores the mother’s multifaceted role in intergenerational value transmission and the cultivation of familial bonds, offering recommendations for social policy and parenting support.