ABSTRACT
Returning,then,toouranalysisof'spoiling',inthisareaof upbringingwefindagreementbetweensocialclassesonthe meansbywhichtrainingshouldproceedbutsomedisagreement onwhatinfactconstitutesthespoiltchild.Bothmiddle-and working-classmothersdotheirbesttomakeweaningaseasy andpleasantaspossible;butthemiddle-classwomanalready beginstofeelthatsheisspoilingherbabybyallowinghimthe bottlebeyondhisfirstbirthday.Forthemiddle-classmother, then,thesituationisanomalous:shehasratherpuritanical expectationsofwhatthebabyshouldbedoing,butsheisnot preparedtobackthemupwithafirmenforcementofdiscipline; inotherwords,shehasrejectedthestrict,TrubyKing-inspired regimeofherownmother'sday,butstillhankersafterthewellbehavedbabywhich,ideallyspeaking,wasitsproduct.The resultisthatsheisapttofeelguiltyandashamedofbehaviour whichtheworking-classwomanacceptsasnaturalandreasonable.
