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Tracking the evolution of childhood is mentioned by Belsky (2018) as one of the developmental contextsthat shape children’s lives. During the colonial era, it was a norm that children in the western parts of
the world would work in the factories, and this led to high mortality rates. The cohort is of much
importance when considering how childhood evolved. According to Belsky (2018), Locke believed that
adult lives are shaped by the way we treat children. Long before children are born, the socioeconomic
status affects child development and hence socioeconomic status can be said to be another
developmental context that shapes children’s lives. Children born in the developed world are more
privileged than children born in the developing world. Children from a lower economic status are more
vulnerable to infectious diseases as compared to their counterparts from developed countries who have
access to the best medical care and education. The impact of culture and ethnicity is another
developmental context that shape children’s lives. Children that lead more difficult lives are those that
are growing up in developing nations (Belsky,2018). Culture can be categorized into collectivistic and
individualistic cultures, and these have a bearing in shaping the lives of children. In collectivistic cultures
the close relationship among people plays a vital role in the children’s identity. Individualism is a core
characteristic of the individualistic culture, and it shapes children to be motivated by their own
viewpoints and preferences. Gender differences also shape children’s lives. Early in life gender
differences can be seen in different gender roles and with the kind of toys that children play with, for
example girls preferring to play with dolls and boys with toy cars. The four changes in society that
characterize development in the twentieth century are extension of life expectancy, escalation of
education, decrease in family size and decline in traditional western two- parent family. (Belsky,2008).
Health related factors are the main changes that transform child development in the twentieth century.
Gordon (2015) as postulated by Belsky (2018) cites that many infants in the nineteenth century could
not survive due to unclean food and milk. After the discovery of vaccines, parents were ensured of
seeing their children into adulthood. Child labor had to cease as the western societies grew richer which
made children to concentrate more on education and have a successful adult life. Escalation of
education as a change in society that characterizes development in the twentieth century is
characterized by delayed adulthood with college and graduate school. The twentieth century has also
seen a decrease in family size especially in rich countries. People were now delaying marriage unlike in
the past where they had to marry soon after puberty and have lots of children. The two-parent family
declined in the traditional western families whereby women did not have to be stay-at-home mothers
waiting for men to be the sole providers. Women in the twentieth century could now have careers,
single parenthood has become a norm and multiple family norms have become fashionable.
(499 words)
Reference
Belsky, J. (2018).Experiencing Childhood and Adolescence. Worth Publishers.
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