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Minor Global PerspectivesLecture 1: Image of the child
The anthropology of childhood
- David Lancy: Cherubs, Chattel, Changeling
Cherubs: the angels, children were seen as angels (beautiful, innocent)
Chattel: personal property, woman will be assets of the family and later of the husband.
(Slave)
Changeling: Birth of deformed and the disabled children. These children were not really seen
as children, they were seen as the children from a Troll. Not really wanted and disposable if
necessary.
Weird: western educated industrialised rich democratic children. (view)
Childhood: is a period from birth to 18-year-old.
What a child is and what a child should be, is different throughout the world.
David Lancy: “Childhood integrates biological and social processes, but the social contexts of
children’s everyday lives are crucial in shaping their experiences”.
1500: Children were seen as miniature adults. They were smaller and had not the same power as
adults. Children could help the parents and work.
Neontocracy vs. Gerontocracy
Neontocracy: is based on the child. All the things have to behave as the child wants.
- Children are the most valuable members of society. We spoil the children and don’t tell them
about our finances etc.
- Adults protect children
- Without supervision, children cannot do anything
- Needs and desires of the child come first
- It is an emotional choice that you make, having a child is emotional choice
- Psychological versus economical choice
Gerontocracy: adults are the most valuable, a child is a belonging of the parents. Parents invest in
their child for the future. There is a possibility to kill a non-good child
- Needs of the parents come first
- Children have an economical value
- Child labour is a common phenomenon.
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- Play is an impediment, the play they do use is plays about hunting, how to cook, how to clean
etc. Plays should be able to have impact on live.
o Children can grow and learn how to work
o Sell child as slaves
o Pay of a depth with a child
Image of the child
- Children and youth
- There are no natural, universal categories
- Child image and youth images can change over time and can change between different
societies
- There are even differences and changes within the same societies and cultures.
The ‘two’ worlds model
- Part-spirit part-human model
- Characteristics that children are pure and innocent, or that children have the potential for evil
Child image:
1. Little demons
- See, but not hear children. What a child says is not important
- Children need to be protected from themselves. Child is born to hurt themselves
- Childhood is a developmental period when one should learn discipline Physical
punishments (Asia).
2. Little angels:
- Childhood is for playing not working
- Children need to be protected from the big, bad world
- Children are innocent and passive. They don’t do it on purpose.
- Children should be happy
Western Child Image WEIRD:
3. Both:
- Childhood is separated from the adult world.
- Children belong in families
- Children are closer to nature than adults
- Children are ‘unfinished’. WEIRD: Children are anonymous learners in empty vessels.
Youth image
The main view of youth is that of problem teens.
Negative image: Youth is the new generation and have a lot of responsibilities, but don’t work on
these responsibilities. And seen as an investment.
- Teenager (1950)
- Prosperity
- Few responsibilities
- Western
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Children in paradise:
‘wanted’
No cultural preference
No gender preference
Well cared for
No stress
No punishment
The priceless child
There is a shift of ideas on how we view children and youth in the nineteenth century
This was a shift in the image of the child: no longer little devils but little angels.
Children are no longer considered ‘helpers’ in improving the family’s economic situation.
Western image of the child
Are seen as universal. Therefore, also applicable to non-western situations. However, concepts such as
innocence, vulnerability, protection are often stressed with the situation of children in developing
countries. Development is not so much a matter of course, but rather children are socialized in
different societies
Problems with exploring the Western Image of the child
Problems related to childhood in the third world become individualized. Whoever does not adhere to
these view is abnormal. Social context is neglected. Responsibility for children lies with their parents.
Children as a-political
International actions for children and youth
International treaty convention on the rights of the child; CRC (Somalia and USA not)
Millennium development goals
Education for all goals
World program of action for youth
Lecture 2: Rights of the child
Convention on the Rights of the Child:
Endorced in the Netherlands: The Netherlands endorsed the treaty in 1995 to ensure we also adhered
to the agreements set out in it. USA NOT!
3P’s :
Provision: good and free eductation, good and accessible health care and other forms of care.
Protection: freedom from ill-treatment, exploitation, neglect, child labour, acts of war, child
trafficking and slavery.
Participation: children should be given an opportunity to participate in everything that is related to
their lives.
Three parts containing 54 articles:
Part 1: actual rights of children
Part 2: monitoring and reporting
Part 3: Procedures
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