At the beginning of the article “Different cultures, different childhoods,” Montgomery states that there is a significant difference between modern and historical childhoods. In comparison to the previous centuries, children nowadays have fewer responsibilities and more entertainment in their lives. They are not expected to earn their daily bread; instead, they are typically treated with great care and cherished in their families.
Later on, the writer expands on this idea by pointing out that how children are treated depends not only on the period but also on the culture. The studies of social anthropologists have shown that, in comparison to Western people, some others have very different understandings of children and their needs. Some examples of that are provided in the article. This difference poses a fair question: should childhood be considered a “social construction”?
In the Inuit culture, children are seen as individuals who lack thought, reason, and understanding, which results in compassionate and lenient treatment from parents. Alternatively, Tongans use corporal punishments as the primary discipline method, while children are viewed as mischievous and lacking social competence.
The Beng are notable with their spiritual belief that young children are capable of understanding all human languages and cultures. This unique characteristic makes them of high reverence for their parents who do not wish their offspring to go back to a pleasant spirit world.
Children in the Western world are often viewed as incompetent and dependent, while in other cultures, it is quite the opposite. The Yanamamö expect their girls to be able to run a household and marry by the age of thirteen. Nonetheless, boys are allowed to play more and marry much later than girls.
The author emphasizes that the social anthropologists’ objective is not to impose judgments on the ways of raising children that do not correspond to Western ideas. On the contrary, their research highlights the variety of childhoods around the world. A cross-cultural approach allows scientists to study how upbringing and nation-specific traditions can impact children’s future.