Grandmothers: A Learning Institution - Basic Education and Policy ...

members often consult the moreexperienced ones when faced withdifficult problems related to familyhealth and well-being.• Many grandmothers have a collectivesense of responsibility for childrenand women in the community.In western societies, grandmothersfeel responsible for their own grandchildren,daughters, and daughters-inlaw.In contrast, in non-western societiesmany grandmothers expressand demonstrate their concern forother women and children in thecommunity, specifically those in theirown extended family and neighborhood.For example, if a child is upsetor is quarreling with other children, agrandmother from another family willintervene to help. If a pregnantwoman does not have a seniorwoman living with her, an experiencedneighbor will often give heradvice during her pregnancy andafter delivery. The traditional ideathat “it takes a village to raise a child”is still applied in many places, particularlyin more rural areas. In manyurban settings, however, the conceptof collective responsibility for children’supbringing is increasingly beinglost.• Some grandmothers feel that theirstatus as advisors in child and familydevelopment is diminishing.In many settings some grandmothersexpress the feeling that with thearrival of “modern ideas” in theirhouseholds and communities, respectfor their experience is diminishingand they are gradually being marginalized.Some lament the fact thatthey are progressively being excludedfrom playing the central role in childand family development that theytraditionally assumed. Often theyidentify formal schooling as a factorthat pulls children away from eldersand their traditions insofar as schoolcurriculums usually fail to link traditionaland “modern” values. Manygrandmothers are critical of youthcentereddevelopment strategies thatexclude them and contribute todiminishing their status as advisors onchild and family matters.The overarching conclusions that emergefrom this literature review are that grandmothersare present in all cultures andcommunities, that they have considerableexperience related to all aspects of childdevelopment, and that they are stronglycommitted to promoting the well-being ofchildren, their mothers, and families. Forthese several reasons, they constitute avaluable resource for child developmentprograms. Families around the worldacknowledge that grandmothers play aninfluential role in the socialization, acculturation,and care of children as they growand develop. While there are examples ofharmful practices promoted by grandmothersin various cultures, the wide-rangingrole they play and the respect theyenjoy in virtually all societies suggest thatthey should be key actors and partners inall child development programs. It is onlythrough their active involvement thatgrandmothers can learn about “modern”child development practices, build on their18 UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT