In preindustrial cultures without formal schooling, kids groups are mixed-age and consist mainly of cousins, younger aunts and uncles, a few unrelated children. Same-aged children in industrialized cultures segregate themselves on basis of age and sex, because they can. If there s a lunchroom, groups will divide by age, and boys will be at one table, girls at another. By adolescence, groups not as bound by age and sex. These groups are what socialize all of us during development.
Adults create their own groups, and they influence each other s parenting methods.
Studies show that women from same social class, ethnic group, or neighborhood are more similar to each other in child-rearing methods than they are to their parents. That will make it seem as if the parents are having a strong influence on the children. Child behaves in ways to be accepted. Children create intense between-group contrasts. For example, sex-based segregation happens despite parents best intentions.