THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF CHILDHOOD

Inquiring about childhood in an appropriate way to address the historical facts, the series of this article gathers brief historical facts of childhood history.  In continuation of our previously published article Childhood History (1^st Ser, February 11, 2021), this article contains the insights of Children Social Existence, The Mal-Treatment Factors, Poor Education, The Child Labor, and The Mortality Rate

The Social Existence

The social existence of children in the past was considered innocent and, in need of protection and training by the adults around them.  The children's daily life was not scheduled as today, they eat, play, and move around anytime.  They were generally bifurcated through their sex whereas; boys who will be really helping hand for their father in the future and would be leading the family hierarchy were given a high preference.  Girls on other hand were considered to be a very weak & dependent species who finally would get married.  Mostly they lived in joint families where probably chances of attention towards them were very low.  In their middle childhood, they get more socialized having new friends and exposed to sitting in conversation with elders.  Subsequently; boys start helping their parents in the agriculture field or trade for getting skilled.  Girls support their mother at house chores and start learning, how to support the family and obey elders, and in the future manage husband and in-laws.  Moreover; children in middle childhood & adolescence were also considered as a workforce.  Poor or middle-class parents give birth to many children that would become future workforce and economic assistance. 

The Mal-Treatment Factor

Children mal-treatment factor was very high in the history.  Definitely, the number of professions and choices were very little at that time but even then they were not able to adopt their own choices.  In this context habits & practices were imposed on children without accessing their mindset or wishes. There is a vast literature available that suggests that the child at birth intrinsically evil, especially the female gender. Religions provided safety & rights to them but that was society and customs revealed them to an insecure and non-productive environment. 

Poor Education

Parents were uneducated and not known by the facts of childhood development so as the educational institutions at that time.  Life was mostly rural and tough therefore availability of educational institutions & health care was rare except in urban areas.  Parents who wanted their children to be educated in any form i.e. religion, science, arts or skill they need to send them to other cities/countries and for years they don’t have any kind of contact with them.

The Child Labor

Until the 19^th-century child labor was common practice and accepted in society.  They worked in agricultural lands, factories, and even servants of rich families, as long they become adults, become strong, and then finds more hard jobs.  Poor parents also forced them to be engaged in street peddling.  An orphan or abandoned children lived in more worst scenarios. They were mostly abducted to become dishonest adults by involving them in robberies, crimes, and prostitution. They were intentionally disabled or handicap for bagging so people will get sympathy.  Their teeth were extracted to be used as artificial teeth for the rich.

 The Mortality Rate

Due to the absence of proper medication, the child and mother mortality during birth was high.  Researchers have independent studies on childhood mortality in the past but most studies suggested that around 25% of an infant died during the first year of life and around 50% before reaching the age of puberty.  Children's special protection and proper treatment didn’t exist and incurable diseases were quite predominant that tend to a high level of mortality rates.  During early childhood, parents didn’t have much emotional attachment with children because the chances of loss were high until they reached an age where chances of survival were likely high.

 

 

Bibliography

Dawood Janan, ‘Childhood History’, 2ND Ser, Blogger.com, (18 Feb 2021) Note: This Article contains series; Childhood Social History is the second article of the series