The “Creation” of Childhood and Delinquency

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.