What, for example, do you notice about the children depicted in the paintings in Figure 3.1?
Our ideas about childhood and what it means to be a child today have changed over time and will continue to be shaped by many factors. Examining how our view of children in America has evolved can help us understand the things that influence the way we see them today and what might happen in the future. Historically, events such as western migration across the frontier, massive waves of immigration into American cities, and wars have affected family dynamics and, correspondingly, the lives and roles of children. Societal change, such as women’s suffrage and the feminist movement of the 1960s, has produced changes in perceptions about gender roles. Scientific and social science research has also contributed to our understanding of the biology and psychology of human growth and development and how children learn. This section addresses how our image of the child is informed and shaped by history, society, and science.
History
We can tell a great deal about how the image of the child has changed over time by looking at pictures and paintings of children from different periods. What, for example, do you notice about the children depicted in the paintings in Figure 3.1? Can you tell anything about their economic or class status from the way children are dressed? Do you see signs of their assigned gender roles? From the activities represented, can you infer how children were expected to behave? How do they appear to interact with adults or other children? Do you see any evidence of cultural stereotypes or historical prejudices? Some of your thoughts may be reflected in the following descriptions of three predominant historical viewschildren as miniature adults, conflicting views of innocence, and children as the property of others.