Childhood Sociology

Across the globe there are many different cultures that all have different customs and traditions. The location where we grow up, the religion we practice, our parent’s financial situation, and race all have a huge impact on our childhood. People are a product of their environment. One who grows up in a strong religious family might have different values than someone who wasn’t raised religiously. .But what exactly is childhood? At what age does childhood begins to fade and adulthood take shape?

The concept of childhood is a socially constructed idea meaning it was created by individuals in a society. Childhood is the age range where an individual grows from a baby into a young adult. According to the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, childhood spans birth to the age of 18 (Sorin, 2005, p.13).

Childhood is different depending on where the child grows up. A child growing up without a car in Australia is at a greater disadvantage than a child who grows up without a car in the U.S. (Fleer, p.13). Since resources are spread thin in Australia, not having a car means one will have to find a new way to

access things like food and school compared to Oregon where everything is close and easily obtainable by public transportation.
Some images of childhood described by Sorin are the miniature child, evil child, and innocent child.

From these images we can see how they affect socio-cultural beliefs about adults. An example is the innocent child needing protection and shelter from the harsh realities of the real world. A parent is supposed to take care of them and provide them shelter, food, etc. The child in need shapes our idea that adults are the providers and saviors. Parents have to find a way to provide for their children no matter the circumstances. Organizations like Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD) strive to be the protector of children and advocate for people not to drink and drive. They find it their duty as mothers to look after the well-being off all children, not just their own. As time progressed, new organizations would arise to help care for all

children.
Around the 1790s philanthropists built establishments such as charity schools, Sunday schools, orphan asylums, and reformatories (Mintz, 2004) in order to care for delinquent children. From 1790 to the 1840s, institutions arose to separate children from “the corruptions of the public world and provide them with order and discipline their families lacked” (Mintz, p.156). Soon after a shift to more home-like environment for children, such as adoption homes and cottage environments occurred. Displayed in modern day foster care system.
Following the Civil War, the Savers aimed to protect children from exploitation, abuse and neglect. Finally, from around 1890 to World War I, public responsibility was factored into child saving and child welfare was started. The earliest and longest lasting child institution was the orphan asylum. Due to high immigration and the loss of the apprentice system, more children were becoming homeless as their families were unable to care for and support them financially. Thus children were forced to leave home in search of work. Unfortunately, with the final swelling of the orphan population during WWI, orphanages could no longer afford to stay open. The Social Security Act of 1935 (Aid to Department Children) ended the orphanage era.