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The “Creation” of Childhood and Delinquency

The “Creation” of Childhood and Delinquency. Changing Images of Childhood. Contrasting Views of Childhood. As the concept of childhood began to take root, two contrasting views of the nature of the child began to take form: The innocent child The depraved child. The Innocent Child.

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The “Creation” of Childhood and Delinquency

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  1. The “Creation” of Childhood and Delinquency Changing Images of Childhood

  2. Contrasting Views of Childhood • As the concept of childhood began to take root, two contrasting views of the nature of the child began to take form: • The innocent child • The depraved child

  3. The Innocent Child • This view of the child emerged in the late 17th century. • It is largely a product of the Enlightenment, which sees humanity as essentially good or potentially good--tabula rasa. • There is also a Christian influence here--e.g., Christ’s mandate to “…become as little children.” • With this view, it was mandatory that the child be safeguarded from the evils of the adult world.

  4. The Depraved Child • This understanding of childhood was grounded strongly in the Calvinist doctrine of the depravity of human nature. • Hence, the child must be guarded from the temptation to do evil. • Consequently, training, discipline, and education were stressed as a way to insulate the child from evil temptation. • Proper manners were stressed to provide a highly structured framework for social behavior.

  5. Emerging Childrearing Practices • Many of the old practices, such as wetnursing, continued, but with greater care and deliberation. • Emerging principles of childrearing to emerge included: • close supervision of children • discipline • modesty in dress and behavior • hard work • respect for authority

  6. Social Forces in the Emerging Conception of Childhood • Protestant Reformation--emphasis on “this world” asceticism rather than “other world” mysticism of Catholicism. • Nuclear Family--did not emerge until the Industrial Revolution. Resulted in greater emphasis on childrearing, etc. • School--first public school in U.S. established in 1647. Apprenticeship system gave way to public school system.

  7. Social Stratification and the Emerging Conception of Childhood • Economic Stratification--new “bourgeois” middle class emerged which embodied the essence of the ideal child and ideal family, and dominated the schools • Racial Stratification--education was not made available to minority children, but they were expected to adhere to non-minority rules. • Gender Stratification--girls less valued than boys, and often deprived of formal education. • Age Stratification--more and more age segregation in schools and the workplace. Length of adolescence is increasing.

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