Children in America and The Children's Culture Reader provide us with a rich assortment of insight into the ever changing view of childhood. The topics focused on in our readings were gender differences in childhood and the innocence of childhood. Through these readings I found three sources of interest to discuss. The first two coming from Childhood in America look at how gender roles were enforced during the 18th and 19th century. Second from The Children's Culture Reader the idea of the changing culture of childhood.
Part 2 Boys and Girls in Childhood in America gives us a collection of sources showing how gender roles have been instilled in children over the last 400 years. The sources show a wide variety of ways in which these gender roles were created but I found the most interesting examples to involve children's form of dress, play, and literature. In "Suits and Frocks" Karin Calvert examines the forms of clothing and excepted forms of play for male and female children of the 18th century. In this Calvert shows the different expectations put upon children depending on gender. Girls were expected to dress and behave like little ladies. The dress of girls as Calvert explains was "in a fashion suitable for females at any age."(Children in America 84) These fashions were not suitable for rough outdoor play and girls were instead expected to concentrate on play was to prepare them for their roles later in society. Play with dolls and imaginary acts of older womens' work were acceptable forms of play for young women. The boys on the other hand were not restricted in the same way as the girls were by their clothing or the expectation of society. They were expected to be playful and adventurous. These roles were further enhanced by the literature of the time. An example of this would be Briar Rose written by The Brothers Grimm which gained popularity in the 19th century. In this story the princess lies in a deep sleep for 100 years waiting for here brave heroic prince to rescue here and lead her off into happiness. This story shows as Calvert stated "young girls were accepted as children but society still viewed their development as limited not worthy of particular attention."(84) Briar Rose was waiting, not dead but not fully alive until here prince came into her life and saved her. This perpetuates the view of women in this society only being prepared for their future as child bearers.
The other article of interest "The Making of Children's Culture" by Stephen Kline is from the Children's Culture Reader. In this article Kline examined the evolution and the institutions that have changed the culture of children in western societies. I found this of particular interest because of Kline's in site into the institutionalization of the school system for the training of children. This movement away from early training in work settings and focusing on training through an education in school is very interesting. What was the goals of the state in using laws and refocusing the energy of the children away from work? What were the changing thoughts about childhood during this time? How did the schools change to accommodate the new focus on education? These are a few of the many questions that would need to be asked to research this topic.
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