ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the intergenerational transmission processes in each family and across the family chains. There is limited data from and about other family members. Nevertheless, the impact of other family members on interviewees is narrated in some life stories. This chapter treats intergenerational transmission as an essential part of mothering, which is embedded in mothers’ daily childrearing activities. The most crucial and transculturally similar feature of mothering is women’s efforts to pass on something valuable and useful to their children. This chapter explores the intergenerational processes, the reported actions/interactions between mothers and daughters (as well as between other family members) and the consequences of transmission. Concepts relating to intergenerational transmission are discussed first, supported by empirical examples from the 12 families. Then two family cases, including six women’s stories, are analysed in detail to demonstrate the complex transmission processes and the result in terms of what has been accepted, altered or refused by the receiver, and how this affected their social mobility.
