The end of childhood

News: Recently, an American school in Texas witnessed a horrific incident of mass shooting.

About the Childhood concept

Cultural historians and demographers have demonstrated that childhood has been recognised as a social category not more than 300 years ago.

Over this period, it has been recognised as a distinct stage of human life and has gained universal acceptance.

The studies were conducted in disciplines such as psychology, linguistics and anthropology which asserted the importance of childhood as a distinct and prolonged stage of life in human society. It was not merely a biological stage of life. This new perspective gradually created a global consensus that child survival and welfare is important.

Developments on the concept of childhood

Every country formally recognized the children’s rights. They brought changes in their policies.

It was argued that children need protection throughout childhood extending from infancy to adolescence and early youth.

As children can’t be expected to assert their rights, the state and society must guarantee that these rights are not violated. This led to the emergence of the idea of collective responsibility for childhood protection.

Situation at present

The Childhood protection from physical and psychological harm, which earlier received consensus from the family, the school and the state is no longer effective.

What are the threats to childhood?

The threats range from issues of public health, universal schooling, protecting children from early death, use of children as cheap labour, induction into exploitative trade and violent conflicts.

Although, considerable progress has taken place in many parts of the world. but the changes occurring in conditions surrounding children are pervasive and deep.

The deep economic and cultural changes that are taking place around us are changing the life & the values related to children’s life today. A long period that influenced parenthood and education is approaching its end.

The state’s role as the custodian of children’s rights has weakened. It has voluntarily withdrawn in order to create room for commercial interests directly addressing children.

The state as well as the family is unable to provide some measures for protection around childhood.

The new consortium of market forces has penetrated. The children are now seen as consumers and also as objects or commodities of consumption.

Digital communication has created a condition that children can be approached without the knowledge of their guardians. They have been subject to oppression through the so-called social media platforms. They have exposure to violent videos, pornography and terrorising messages.

Nowadays, it has become a rare phenomenon to see children playing on the street or in park-like spaces.

Source: The post is based on an article “The end of childhood” published in the Indian Express on 18^th June 2022.