Creating a Village in Modern Suburbia: Parenthood and Social Capital

Abstract

Local communities with good stocks of social capital nurture and support the families residing within. This qualitative study explored through the perspectives of mothers, how families with children aged 0–5 years build social capital in newer residential areas in Perth, Western Australia. Parenthood generally increased the desire to connect to one's local community, which activated and enhanced social capital. Two themes appear to drive this desire: an increased need for social support and an increased vested interest in the local community. However, newer residential areas commonly have a lag of community infrastructure needed to provide opportunities for families with young children to interact with other families. Urban planning and community sectors need to coordinate to provide infrastructure and opportunities for families with young children to connect and build social capital within their local communities.

社会资本好的社区能够滋养和支持居住在其中的居民。我们这个定性研究通过母亲的视角，探讨 0-5 岁幼儿家庭如何在西澳大利亚州帕斯的新居民区积累社会资本。这一愿望似乎是受两个动力的驱使：对社会支持的需求的增加，和在本社区既得利益的增加。然而，新居民区往往缺少幼儿家庭与其他家庭交流所需的社区基础设施。城市规划和社区部门需要协同为幼儿童家庭提供基础设施和机会，使之得以在本社区内积累社会资本。

Keywords::

• Social capital
• families
• mothers
• community
• neighbourhood
• built environment

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the mothers and community staff for providing their valuable time and insightful perspectives.

Notes

^1. The work was undertaken at the Centre for the Built Environment and Health at The University of Western Australia (www.sph.uwa.edu.au/research/cbeh).

Additional information

Funding

The first author is supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award scholarship.