This article seeks to unearth types of parenting and which is suited for a particular situation

THE ISSUES OF PARENTING CULLED FROM 50 CENTS POWER TV SERIES

Hall Mark

From Starz TV series Power- issues of parenting

In a gritty street of New York, a family is caught in-between the drug hustle and different aspiring cartels squabbling over territorial control. One teenager is caught in the middle – torn between the promise of easy money and a life free from crime. Can he escape the cycle of violence, or is he destined to become another victim of the street?.  

The most important question is how poor parenting contributed to the young child (Tariq St. Patrick) getting caught up in this game that ends in body bags. 

In 1967, Diane Baumrind proposed a theory about how parents and children interact with each other. She said that parents who are strict but also nurturing are more effective than parents who are strict but not nurturing, or parents who are permissive and nurturing. Healthy parenting involves setting rules and expectations in a clear way, and letting children know what is expected of them as they grow up. This type of parenting encourages children to be independent and self-reliant, and helps them to have a positive attitude. Baumrind’s research found that this type of parenting leads to higher levels of child compliance without losing the child’s independence. 

Google as gives an explanation for traditional parenting; The traditional parenting style is more commonly used in families with non-Western cultural values. Parents using this approach expect their children to respect and obey authority (e.g., parents, elders, etc.) and comply with their cultural beliefs and values without questions. 

With these explanations of different parenting given by Baumrind and google, it is deduced that Tariq St. Patrick required traditional style of parenting. This is because St. Patrick “Ghost” was a popular drug dealer cum business man, who wanted to leave the game of drugs and start making legal money, all he did in the drug business was to make enough to take care of his family and most important, provide conducive environment for his kids. But his wife Tasha objected his decision to leave the drug game, leading her to turn his son against the father. It is important to note that,  Kanan came in and turned Tariq against his parents, but Tasha also played a role in turning Tariq against his father, by telling him about their drug cartel. Exposing the child to a different kind of world that should have stayed hidden for the child’s safety. Being that St. Patrick was already trying to dissuade Tariq from the bad vices Kanan introduced him to. Tasha, here exposing this underworld business to her son, does this to spite the husband and in this context, it seems that Tasha's actions could be interpreted as parental alienation, which is when one parent undermines the child's relationship with the other parent. In this case, Tasha is actively telling Tariq negative things about his father and trying to turn him against him. This is not healthy or beneficial for Tariq, and it could have long-term consequences for his relationship with his father. It's also possible that Tasha is trying to manipulate Tariq into siding with her in their conflict with St. Patrick. 

Even though families and  children differ, some may thrive in a traditional structured environment (basically non-western method of raising a child) or permissive environment (western method of raising a child). For Tariq he got into trouble selling drugs, even had his sister killed. At this point permissiveness is not required in bringing him up, rather the traditional mode should have been activated. Ghost wanted his son to have a successful, legitimate life, in the contrary Tasha, the mother wanted and accepted his son’s choice of drug peddling, she even agreed to teach him the game. What happens here is a clash in parental views and culture, St. Patrick’s view is traditional while that if Tasha is permissive.  

Eventually, the boy ends up killing the father, since Tasha’s act instigated him against his father. Her encouragement drove a vulnerable young man into committing an unforgivable atrocity.  

On this backdrop, it is always important for parents to be on the same page when choosing to raise a child. August Conte sees the family as a small unit if the society, presents it as a garbage in garbage out scenario. Where the family fails, the society suffers 

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