Childhood denotes an important time frame within one’s life. The perception of the essence of childhood has changed remarkably in the Western world since the beginning of time. The recounting of one’s childhood memories through an interview is a significant way to learn about an individual’s history and what childhood, in general, was like during that time period.
One of the most important changes in the course of developing the concept of childhood in the early 20th century was the reformation of education. Towards the beginning of the century, education replaced child-labor. In past centuries, parents needed their children to help contribute to family income, so they had them work long hours. In the early 20th century, society recognized …show more content…
When Anna was thirteen or fourteen, she had to work in a packing house. There, she had to, “Pick out bad tomatoes and put them in boxes.” When asked if she liked working there, she commented saying, “For the most part. The work wasn’t too bad and the owners were nice people.” Child labor in her time was different from child labor centuries ago. During earlier centuries, children often worked long hours in dangerous factories. They worked in terrible conditions and often got physically punished. This type of child labor declined in the 20th century. Anna grew up in a century where children did not have to work long hours, they did not get beaten, and there were less harsh …show more content…
In past centuries, parents would send their children off to work in factories and they would never see them again. Parents did not mourn the deaths of their children. This changed in later centuries. In the 19th and 20th centuries, improved infant mortality allowed parents to make strong emotional investments in their children. Portraits began revealing changes in perceptions of children. The interviewee recalled that her parents “loved every one of their children,” and they “never treated them badly.” Parents in this century began to spend money on their children. Parents were willing to spend more money on education and amusement. During this time, children started to become luxury
One of the most important changes in the course of developing the concept of childhood in the early 20th century was the reformation of education. Towards the beginning of the century, education replaced child-labor. In past centuries, parents needed their children to help contribute to family income, so they had them work long hours. In the early 20th century, society recognized …show more content…
When Anna was thirteen or fourteen, she had to work in a packing house. There, she had to, “Pick out bad tomatoes and put them in boxes.” When asked if she liked working there, she commented saying, “For the most part. The work wasn’t too bad and the owners were nice people.” Child labor in her time was different from child labor centuries ago. During earlier centuries, children often worked long hours in dangerous factories. They worked in terrible conditions and often got physically punished. This type of child labor declined in the 20th century. Anna grew up in a century where children did not have to work long hours, they did not get beaten, and there were less harsh …show more content…
In past centuries, parents would send their children off to work in factories and they would never see them again. Parents did not mourn the deaths of their children. This changed in later centuries. In the 19th and 20th centuries, improved infant mortality allowed parents to make strong emotional investments in their children. Portraits began revealing changes in perceptions of children. The interviewee recalled that her parents “loved every one of their children,” and they “never treated them badly.” Parents in this century began to spend money on their children. Parents were willing to spend more money on education and amusement. During this time, children started to become luxury