Innocence used to be a religious notion in earlier times. Innocence is then emphasized to defend the assumption of an absence of sexuality in children and the demand for such absence. Innocence is not a scientific term; therefore, the numerous studies concerning processes, seminal ideas, and functions of the value assessment of children and childhood do not constitute a unified research area.
They do so while analyzing the social construction and reconstruction of childhood at different times and in different historical and contemporary contexts. They do so as well in the interpretation of classic pedagogy, as innocence is a conceptual element in the writings of several pedagogues. There is no encompassing introduction into the scattered research area on innocence and childhood. But the interconnection of childhood and innocence refers to a far broader issue. The best introductions are therefore texts that expose the history of ideas and mentalities on children and childhood and relate it to social and institutional history.
They depict the complexity and contexts of the attribution of innocence or sin in various times. The works of Sommerville and Baader prove that the ascription of innocence to childhood or its denial implicates fundamental assumptions concerning humankind and the relation of humans to God. Evidently such questions have been solved in different ways during history and have been discussed over and over again.
Strikingly enough, the more general solutions concerning human value or guilt were often not simply transferred onto children. The thoughts concerning children, rather, show an additional notion of what might be called provision or affection. For example, in times when theological thinking made it inevitable to see children implicated in original sin, some Church Fathers started to consider that children should not suffer in hell, although they were condemned unless baptized ; Sommerville gives relevant examples.
The history of assumptions and ascriptions concerning childhood can be exemplified by images that became famous in folklore or literature, as Richter presents them. Cunningham focuses on convergences and divergences between ideas of children and realities of adult-child relations throughout history. Jenks gives a shorter overview, helping readers who do not want to dive deeper into history of mind.
The same is true for Fass with no chapters on innocence explicitly, but some chapters related to its history. Baader, Meike Sophia. Neuwied, Germany: Luchterhand, Analyzes pedagogical and belletristic texts of Romantic era 18th and 19th centuries that emphasize the innocence of childhood. Very careful analysis of the thinkers by always referring to their important writings.
Text is excellently written and therefore easy to follow, even for readers with limited knowledge of the history of ideas. Cunningham, Hugh. Things like this, specifically the sexualization of young girls, can be a huge factor in the loss of innocence. In , researchers did a study to identify self sexualization in young girls and identify factors that protect girls from objectifying themselves. Also psychologists at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois assessed self sexualization in girls, ages through the use of paper dolls.
The results were significant in two categories: 68 percent of the girls said the doll looked how she wanted to look, and 72 percent said she was more popular than the non-sexy doll. Needless to say, young girls and boys should not have to feel the pressures popularity through sexualization.
These pressures cause children to explore their sexuality at too young of an age and it needs to be stopped. If parents ever want to combat the loss of childhood innocence, they need to be mindful of what their children are exposed to.
They need to focus on nurturing their children instead of being too concerned with success that loose sight of what is important. Parents are responsible for teaching their children what they will need later in life but everything must be done in moderation. If this is not done their might be irreparable damage done to children because of the actions of their parents.
Work Cited:. Winn, Marie. The New York Times, 07 May Abbasi, Jennifer. LiveScience, 16 July This a very interesting argument. I have noticed that kids talk a lot about sexuality, and have done so for as long as I can remember. I think it is interesting and good that you chose to talk about this topic, because it is something that we all are involved in and know about. Where does that unashamed, unafraid behavior go?
Yes, some kids might be shy and, yes, some children like mine throw hysterical tantrums for the smallest and biggest things. Letting others know, just like a toddler. Maybe we not always putting on the display of a toddler but certainly still doing it, just in more manipulative and grown-up ways.
Still demanding and act like thunder. If they like something, they say it, that childhood innocence follows them around. When we laugh, they laugh; when we dance, they dance and they sure as anything say hello to everyone and everything, constantly striking up random conversations wherever they go.
When did we start caring so much, and why? Why have we become so judgmental and critical of everyone and everything around us? Are those things really so important?
If not, why do these things literally steal our joy and our time? We become self-centered, self-conscious and critical. A few years ago, I lived in this tiny town where it was common practice to wave at everyone as you drove past, even if you had no clue who they were.
It brought joy to both of our hearts to wave at strangers. It was a special little town because not only did they wave, they said hello too. All day, wherever you went, people would just greet each other and smile. It was hard to be grumpy with all the joy floating around. I loved it; I loved the innocent, friendly, happy atmosphere everyone would bring.
My gran was a very special lady and someone I need to think of often. You never saw her without a smile on her face. She made a decision that no matter the day she was having, she was going to choose to have joy. She would say hello to everyone and randomly chat to strangers in the line.
This too changed her, her decision to be happy made her happy. Her decision to not complain about everything made her happy. She laughed easily and she was lovely to be around. We need to look at others great traits and learn from them.
We can decide that! Even if we are feeling as if there is a thunderstorm brewing in our heads or if anger is bursting from our hearts or even if negativity is the mantra we carry and the flag we fly- we can decide to smile. We can choose happiness. Today, I will smile and I will say hello to strangers or wave at them in the car.
I will tap my foot to the song in the grocery store or even hum along.
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