The Western Concept of Childhood Is Not Really the Norm

Modernity and globalization have changed the concept of childhood and childhood concepts in society - children and young people who contributed to the "family economy" are now considered economically valuable (Zelsier, 1995, Orellana , 2009, p. 239). However, the study of Orellana (2009), childhood: youth of immigrants, language and culture, and Fong (2004) studies, under the single child policy of China by presenting the story of the western world I just hope that my age will challenge the normative views of Western European countries. Children can not spend a typical childhood that most children think, such as relaxing and playing indefinitely with friends.

In many ways, the idea of ​​childhood was invented in the 18th century. There are many guidelines on how to properly educate and care for children during this period. By the end of the century Western culture began treating childhood as valuable and short time for those who should be protected. This is the first time that the Child Labor Law is used to regulate the time and type of labor that a child can work. (For example, Charles Dickens, a person working in a factory as a child)

At any time, childhood is not defined and experienced in the same way in all societies. Modern Western childhood concept has historical and cultural features. Philippe Ariès (1962) is one of the first proposals that childhood is contemporary discovery. He thinks that in the Middle Ages children were considered miniature adults from early childhood and dressed like adults who share adult job and leisure time. The needs of children are not considered to be different from the needs of adults. Also, it is not affected by every aspect of adult life. An understanding of sexual relations is not considered to be harmful to them, and public execution is a sight of the people of all ages. However, Ariès exaggerated his view (Pollock 1983; see Archard 1993) when he insisted there was no childhood concept before modernity. Shulamith Shahar (1990) argues that medieval thinkers believe that young children are less psychological and moral than adults.

Here, David Archard (1993) distinguishes between childhood concept and childhood concept. The concept of childhood only requires the distinction between children and adults to some extent and the concept requires a more concrete idea about the identity of the child. Just because childhood concepts existed in the past does not mean that people share the concept of modern childhood. The view of medieval authors against childhood is very different from today. They state the status and obligations of children, and the right for children to be empowered at various stages of maturity (Shahar 1990). Childhood is mainly defined as a social position rather than psychological development. From the 16th century to the 17th century, attitudes toward children began to change very slowly, initially affecting the boys of the upper class and then affecting their sisters (Ariès 1962; Pinchbeck and Hewitt 1969).