協商「發展律令」：早期童年的育兒實作與親職治理

Negotiating “Developmental Imperatives＂: Childrearing Practices and Parental Governance in Early Childhood

本研究關注當代「科學育兒」的親職建構與家長經驗，聚焦在早期童年被定義為發展關鍵期的專家論述，以探究母親們如何應對其中蘊含的育兒要求，並強調論述異質性以及孩子行動能力對於日常照護實作的影響。首先，本研究將這種新興的專家論述命名為「發展律令」，再區分四種主要類型：情感依附、社會適應、大腦開發、正常性，分別訴諸特定的科學權威，建構不同的兒童特質與問題化，也配置各自的育兒技術與母職角色，並透過多樣管道進入私己的家庭生活。發展律令的規範力量植基於社會上既存的家庭觀念與母職意識形態，唯新的論述以科學之名擴充母親們的職責範圍，並設定緊迫時間性來強化育兒投入。而母親們對發展律令的接納與實踐程度，則是與她們原本具備的親職價值及資源條件持續協商的結果。同樣重要的是：嬰幼兒本身亦是影響母親選擇、調整與反思專家建議及權威的重要行動者。即便表面上看似母親們基於不同利益與興趣而自我治理，育兒現實必然是在論述與照護實作的動態來回中，隨著嬰幼兒的發展進度，乃至於孩子的回應與意願而共同構成。

This study explores the discursive construction of parenthood and mothers' experiences in the process of “scientific childrearing” and focuses on contemporary parenting advice for early childhood development. The analysis is based on qualitative interview data from 41 mothers and related postings by mothers on two online parenting forums. These new parenting discourses are conceptualized as “developmental imperatives” and categorized into four themes: emotional attachment, social adaptation, intellectual potential, and normality. Each theme incorporates specific scientific theories, childhood perspectives, problematics, childrearing techniques, and aspects of the mother's role. The dominance of these developmental imperatives is enhanced by extant ideologies of motherhood, while the new parenting discourses have expanded the range of mothers' responsibilities for the child and resorted to concepts of “crucial periods” to ensure mothers' engagement. This study finds mothers' preference for the specific developmental imperative depending on its assumption about childhood and developmental goods, but mothers' daily practices have been compromised by their resources. In addition, young children's own temperaments and abilities also strongly influence mothers' choice, adaptation, and reflection on expert advice and authority. Since the child is an actor in the parent-child relationship, no developmental goals and mothering practices can be actualized without his or her willingness and collaboration.