Centre for Parenting Culture Studies

Centre for Parenting Culture Studies Based in the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Research at the University of Kent. Our website is: http://blogs.kent.ac.uk/parentingculturestudies/

The Centre is based in the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Kent but has Associates at many Universities in the UK and other countries. The idea for the Centre was first discussed at an international conference held at the University of Kent in May 2007, called ‘Monitoring Parents: Childrearing in the age of intensive parenting’. From that point onwards, those now involve

d with CPCS exchanged ideas, developed collaborative research and writing projects, and organised further events. In 2010 CPCS was established formally as one of the University of Kent’s many research centres.

Congrats to the authors Pernille Juhl and Allan Westerling on this new book
03/09/2026

Congrats to the authors Pernille Juhl and Allan Westerling on this new book

With the conditions of parenthood constantly changing, this book examines the reconfiguration of parenting as well as the political, institutional, and personal

CPCS Associate Ashley Frawley writes on the influence of parenting culture in the response to the Lindsay Clancy trial
26/08/2026

CPCS Associate Ashley Frawley writes on the influence of parenting culture in the response to the Lindsay Clancy trial

The Lindsay Clancy case has taken an odd turn online. Clancy is facing three counts of first-degree murder after her children were found strangled in the family’s Duxbury home...

We were pleased to welcome Ellen Mertens earlier this year to introduce a seminar about her research. Her co-authored ne...
11/08/2026

We were pleased to welcome Ellen Mertens earlier this year to introduce a seminar about her research. Her co-authored new paper here:

This qualitative study investigates how breastfeeding mothers’ information practices unfold in relation to momfluencers’ breastfeeding content. Using Mckenzie’s everyday life information seeking mo...

With comment from Prof Ellie Lee, sceptical of this latest attempt to justify criminalising parents through advocacy res...
12/06/2026

With comment from Prof Ellie Lee, sceptical of this latest attempt to justify criminalising parents through advocacy research

A University College London (UCL) study suggests that smacking children "does no good whatsoever".

04/06/2026

We held our ECR Parenting Culture Studies Research Day at UCL almost a year ago, and heard from Rebecca Matthews' about her research adapting ideas about the intensification of motherhood to explore birth.

You can now read about the research here, in Social Science and Medicine:

Ellie Lee joined the Beyond Gender podcast for this wide-raging discussion, covering the adoption of trauma discourse by...
08/05/2026

Ellie Lee joined the Beyond Gender podcast for this wide-raging discussion, covering the adoption of trauma discourse by the anti-abortion movement, the rise of mental health, the problem of pushing exclusive breastfeeding, and a lot about Diana Baumrind!

In the latest Beyond Gender podcast episode, Mia Hughes & I spoke with Ellie Lee, Professor of Family & Parenting Research at University of Kent & Director of the Centre for Parenting Culture Studies

Thought-provoking take on 'it takes a village'; has this become the opposite of what it should be and yet another instru...
05/05/2026

Thought-provoking take on 'it takes a village'; has this become the opposite of what it should be and yet another instruction to mothers about how they should 'parent'?

Inc comment from Prof Charlotte Faircloth

As new research shows that one in 10 parents have no support network, Charlotte Cripps isn’t surprised. The idea of community and cooperation when it comes to parenting is all very well, but feeling alone is often the harsh reality

From back in March, during the meningitis outbreak; an interview with Ellie Lee on the issues raised by the shadow of lo...
27/04/2026

From back in March, during the meningitis outbreak; an interview with Ellie Lee on the issues raised by the shadow of lockdown

34 likes, 26 comments. "Meningitis Outbreak Latest: Two Dead and 20 Cases Being Investigated"

Article about gentle parenting, with comment from Ellie Lee
23/04/2026

Article about gentle parenting, with comment from Ellie Lee

As more parents than ever complain that schools are all too strict, Charlotte Cripps talks to authors and professors, many of whom think the problem isn’t in the schools – it’s that there aren’t enough rules at home

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