Parenting in the Courtyard: Understanding the Moral Dimensions of Socially Embedded Practices in Stigmatised Neighbourhoods in Denmark

This article investigates the challenges faced by parents raising children in stigmatised neighbourhoods based on eight-month ethnographic fieldwork.By exploring parenting practices within the public spaces of local communities, the study reveals the intricate interplay between moral considerations, daily practices, and social interactions. It demonstrates the association between parenting practices and not only the parents’ social status and belonging but also the perceived respectability of the neighbourhood. Examining parents' efforts to ensure their children's safety and foster their independence, this study uncovers the diverse norms that shape parents' agency and community integration.Thereby, it highlights the tensions parents face in maintaining the community's social respectability while challenging prevailing notions of territorial determinism. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding parenting in stigmatised neighbourhoods, emphasising the need for contextualised approaches to understanding the social dynamics and morality of parenting in these communities